Red Tie Ten 2007

Here's the top ten movies you should see that came out in 2007. They are listed in alphabetical order.

1. 300

The movie was the Spring break blockbuster immortalized in repeated spoofs and parodies, as well as without a doubt, the manliest film of 2007. When you think about it, I doubt there is a better guy movie. It's about men taking on tough childhoods, making mad love to their wives, kicking ass, taking scars, and dying for everything they stand for. For guys, it's the best damn entertainment with teen boy fans, sold like nothing else and did wonders on DVD sales, and the level of successful CGI and glorified, slow-violence, worked in a way that truly captures the comic book into film without the overly loyal, drenched feeling of Sin City.

2. 3:10 to Yuma

Westerns are a rarity, and good westerns are fewer still. 3:10 captures thrilling action, a moral commentary, and in the background, a comment on westerns and the turning of the era away from outlaws. While it focuses on a broke rancher escorting a lethal outlaw to the train that will take him to trial, every character involved has a degree of depth, from the cruel bounty hunter, a good-hearted doctor, the rancher's son, and relative's of the outlaw's victims met along the way. Great performances from Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, the underrated Ben Foster, and support from Peter Fonda and Alan Tudyk carry this move from start to finish.

3. Bourne Ultimatum

The best action of 2007 belongs to Bourne. Director Paul Greengrass went so far as to have camera men jump off buildings (suspension cables attached) to capture the hero jumping off buildings into windows. The shakey cam is taken to a new level, but this time taken seriously with well thoughtout chase and action scenes, where even if you aren't fully aware of the Jason Bourne story, you can still appreciate the spy action. The editing and camera work makes it clear who is chasing who over large areas, where they are each heading, and more. The clearer understanding adds to the action, and Greengrass found ways to have us keep up every step of the way.

4. Golden Compass

In the recent age of trilogies, we haven't gotten many that spark philosophy, fantasy, and horror in their adventures. The Golden Compass blends everything you could want in a fantasy, from the lovable characters and adventure, to turns and wonderment. Yet the harm to the little children sends chills down my spine, while the philosophy arguments still have me thinking.

5. Juno

I'll offer a steak dinner to find more a movie with more lovable characters this year. Juno is the lovable Ellen Page, who decides to try out sex with her best friend, played by Superbad's Michael Cera. Three months later, she's repetatively getting positives on her pregnancy tests. She finds adoptive parents for her newborn while being all too cool about the pregnancy. There isn't a character in this movie you wouldn't want to hug. The turns I can't get into without ruining great parts of the movie, but the relationships are wonderful and have heart like no other movie.

6. The Lookout

7. No Country for Old Men

8. Ratatouille

9. Sweeney Todd

10. Transformers

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