Bob's Predictions for the TOP TEN BOX OFFICE GROSSES OF 2009

1. Star Trek
2. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
3. The Twilight Saga: New Moon
4. X-Men: Wolverine
5. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
6. Up
7. Public Enemies
8. Monsters vs. Aliens
9. A Christmas Carol
10. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakwel

Adventureland (Bob says 2 out of 2)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
We've all had a summer job. You know, those crappy minimum wage jobs where the customers enjoy their experience, but you just need some cash. There's usually a lot of drama that goes on between the staff with these jobs. The owners in charge love their company a great deal, but the games are rigged and your big prize at the end of the day could be a giant panda. Am I talking about my own job? Well, not exactly. I do like working at a movie theater and I don't think anyone is being cheated by going to our theater (unless of course they watch a really bad movie). And yet, I found a lot of similarities in Adventureland to my current job experience. In this film, there's some really funny moments and also some soapy dramatic ones, like the older employee who has an inappropriate relationship with a fellow co-worker. And everyone at work is gossiping about it. Wow, where have I heard this before?

2. Would I watch it again? YES
This is not the best film of the year, nor am I certain if it's top ten material. But any film that resonates with a person's own experience makes it a movie not to be overlooked. I had fun watching it the first time and I'm sure I would again.

Duplicity (Bob says 1 out of 2)

1. Did I enjoy it? NO
Definitely the most confusing film I've seen this year. Julia Roberts and Clive Owen have some chemistry, by it was hard for me to care about that when I was trying to figure out the basic background and plot of the story. The film jumps frequently into different points in time, and a story told in non-linear fashion is fine as long as the audience can eventually catch up to what is going on. For me, revelations revealed were too little too late. In the end, we find the Owen and Roberts' characters both got screwed, but that realization mattered little to me, I was still puzzled.

2. Would I watch it again? YES
Perhaps I would pick up more watching it a second time around. And I suppose if somebody owned it and wanted to watch it with me, I'd oblige them. Then again, I have a lot of other things to do. Or if I don't, I'll think of something.

Jason's predictions for the TOP TEN BOX OFFICE GROSSES OF 2009

1. Star Trek
2. A Christmas Carol
3. Up
4. Transformers
5. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
6. The Lovely Bones
7. Avatar
8. Monsters vs. Aliens
9. New Moon
10. Public Enemies

Bob; Here is the research I did to come to these results. I looked at the patterns from the past 10 years. I also took into account the fact a 3D movie's ticket costs more than 2D, so a popular one could earn a lot of money. If you look on the bottom you can see my choices and the alternates in parenthesis. -Jason

Monsters vs. Aliens (Jason says 2 out of 2)

1. Did I enjoy this film? YES
I hate 3D. F@@@ing hate it. Gives me a headache and every studio head, director, and other idiot that uses it should get a donkey kick to the breadbasket. 3D just feels like a desperation play by Corporate Hollywood. Losing money to P2P and filesharing they come up with a new way to charge more for the movies. I ask you Corporate Hollywood, if people seeing your movies for free hurts your business, then how come libraries have not destroyed you? Filesharers buy one copy which is then shared with hundreds of people who never pay anything to the copyright holders. Libraries buy one copy which is then checked out by hundreds of people who never pay anything back to the copyright holders. But I am getting into an argument for another day. In summation, I just see 3D as a scam. AND I WORK IN A MOVIE THEATRE!

As you can guess, I did not expect to like Monsters Vs. Aliens. Outside of the 3D, I have issues with Dreamworks animation. I dislike the mass assembly nature of how they produce the scripts for their movies. I tend to be more of an auteur kind of guy. One director and one vision. To tell a story by committee makes my skin crawl.

The movie surprised me. A movie made with the knowledge it will be in 3D can be a great thing. The 3D can be used with subtly. It does not have to only be about objects coming out at you. You can use the 3D to make the viewer believe that the field of vision has expanded. Has it really? No, of course not. The screen is still the same size. Yet the sensation is there. That alone had me in awe.

2. Would I watch it again? YES
When I replay this film in my mind, which is the litmus for repeat viewing, I find myself chuckling at B.O.B.. It's not just the great comedic delivery of Seth Rogen. It is also the utter stupidity and clueless look on B.O.B.'s face. That character just consistently surprised me and had me laughing.

Knowing (Bob says 2 out of 2)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
Engaging, suspenseful, and a story that's not afraid to ask a very important question: Is the universe and all events that happen in it determined by something or someone or is everything simply the unfolding of random chance? The special effects are terrific and Nicolas Cage stars in his best movie since The Weather Man, and I'd say surpasses it.
2. Would I watch it again? YES
Absolutely, this is the first potential candidate to make my top ten list of 2009. (Let the Right One In was also a great film I saw this year, but because it technically was released in the U.S. last October, it does not qualify).

Fired Up (Jason says 2 out of 2)

1. Did I enjoy the movie? YES
Fired Up is not a movie, but more of an exercise in delivery. The constant delivery of quips, one-liners, play on words, and puns. For me, that is enough.
2. Would I watch it again? YES
It is always a good day when you can say you are in a better mood leaving the theatre than when you entered.

The Watchmen (Jason says 0 out of 2)

1. Did I enjoy this film? NO (0 points)
Everything I have to say is summed up best by Bryant Frazer over at Deep-focus.com.
2. Would I watch it again? NO (0 points)
Why bother when I can read the graphic novel.

Watchmen (Bob says 1 out of 2)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
This film has awesome visuals throughout and great special effects. I'd recommend it just for the sake of that, it's early, but I doubt such a visual feast can be topped in 2009. The story reminds me of the song Superman by Five For Fighting. It's not easy being a superhero, in fact, it's downright tough. These heroes lead more screwed up lives than the average joe, and certainly not role models for children. Definitely an adult superhero movie.
2. Would I watch it again? NO
I may watch bits and pieces again, but this is a really long movie and I was aware of it while I was watching. I also did not like the ending, I felt really depressed at the end, and I did not agree that the ends justified the means in the heroes' attempts to bring world peace.

The International (Bob says 1 out of 2)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
Mildly entertaining film redeemed by an incredible action sequence taking place in the Guggenheim Museum in New York. The rest is about average, with a complicated plot and an ending that doesn't really satisfy.
2. Would I watch it again? NO
While the film had enough for me to give it a mild recommendation, there's still not enough about it for me to want to see it again.

Let the Right One In (Bob says 2 out of 2)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES (1 point)
I had heard from other critics that this film was the vampire movie to see instead of the commercially overrated Twilight, and boy were they right. I was hooked from start to finish with this movie. Great acting by the two child leads and a fantastic script. This film is suspenseful, gruesome, funny, captivating, and has a heart. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
2. Would I watch it again? YES (1 point)
I suspect I will enjoy it more and more with each viewing. It will be interesting to see what is picked up the second time around that might have been missed the first time.