10. HAPPY FEET (Ge
orge Miller, Warren Coleman) - A young penguin (Elijah Wood) is cast out of his penguin tribe for dancing too much instead of being "normal." Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year. Okay, so Robin Williams is starting to get a little annoying in his old age and the environmentalism got a little preachy towards the end, but even the preaching won me over. The graphics were beautiful and the dancing penguin made me smile...and I hate to smile, so that says something. FAVORITE SCENE: Anytime they are swimming.9. BORAT (Larry Charles) - A sort of documentary about a british man (S
acha Baron Cohen), who pretends to be from Kazakhstan, touring America to find his true love (who happens to be Pamela Anderson). Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. This was funny. It was disgusting and offensive, but if you didn't laugh, then you're crazy. FAVORITE SCENE: The old guy at the rodeo saying that we need to kill everyone in the Middle East...that set back America about fifty years in one fell swoop.
8. TALLADE
GA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY (Adam McKay) - A giant in the NASCAR world (Will Ferrell) may have met his match when a French driver (Sacha Baron Cohen) comes to steal Ricky's glory. People's Choice Award for Best Movie Comedy. Ferrell's second funniest movie (to Anchorman) has some great one liners and introduced us to how ridiculous NASCAR is (assuming we didn't already know that). John C. Reilly is hilarious! FAVORITE SCENE: Ricky's youngest kid, Texas Ranger (Grayson Russell), talking about his altercation with his teacher ("You've got a lumpy butt!").
GA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY (Adam McKay) - A giant in the NASCAR world (Will Ferrell) may have met his match when a French driver (Sacha Baron Cohen) comes to steal Ricky's glory. People's Choice Award for Best Movie Comedy. Ferrell's second funniest movie (to Anchorman) has some great one liners and introduced us to how ridiculous NASCAR is (assuming we didn't already know that). John C. Reilly is hilarious! FAVORITE SCENE: Ricky's youngest kid, Texas Ranger (Grayson Russell), talking about his altercation with his teacher ("You've got a lumpy butt!"). 7. MON
STER HOUSE (Gil Kenan) - Three kids fight the house across the street that they think is eating people. This movie was MUCH too dark and scary to be a kids movie, but I loved it. The main kids are extremely likeable and the house is genuinely frightening at times, as is the owner of the house, voiced by the great Steve Buscemi. And the new form of animation, using green screens and motion-capture suits, and actually having the actors act out scenes instead of just reading the parts, made this a surprise for me. FAVORITE SCENE: The two cops (Kevin James, Nick Cannon) getting eaten by the house.
STER HOUSE (Gil Kenan) - Three kids fight the house across the street that they think is eating people. This movie was MUCH too dark and scary to be a kids movie, but I loved it. The main kids are extremely likeable and the house is genuinely frightening at times, as is the owner of the house, voiced by the great Steve Buscemi. And the new form of animation, using green screens and motion-capture suits, and actually having the actors act out scenes instead of just reading the parts, made this a surprise for me. FAVORITE SCENE: The two cops (Kevin James, Nick Cannon) getting eaten by the house.6. DELIVER US FROM EVIL (Amy Berg) - A documentary of a pedophile priest, Fat
her Oliver O'Grady, his victims from the past, and the Catholic political system that protected him. This is one of the most disturbing true stories I have ever seen. At parts it is hard to watch, especially when the families talk of losing their faith, but it is important for the church to look at these tragedies and find it's own flaws in order to be the Body of Christ it was called to be. Jesus, have mercy on us. FAVORITE SCENE: Watching the higher priests squirm when they are called out on their lies.
5. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris) - The stor
y of a struggling, screwed up, but ultimately loving, family who are trying to get their daughter to the "Little Miss Sunshine" pageant. Oscars for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role- Alan Arkin and Best Writing for an Original Screenplay. Forget Juno. This is one of the best written comedies in the past ten years. Brilliant dialogue, lovable characters, and an endng that makes you wanna poop your pants with glee...if that's what you do in your moments of glee. FAVORITE SCENE: Everyone sitting around the dinner table for the first time since their gay, suicidal uncle (Steve Carrell) moved in.
4. THE
PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (Gabriele Muccino) - The true story of a man named Chris Gardner (Will Smith) doing everything he can to make enough money to take care of his son, Christopher (Jaden Smith). Both Smiths give the most heartbreaking performances of 2006 that made me wanna cry like a baby. Lots of critics said this movies was too sappy and too happy (a rhyme!), but it was TRUE! FAVORITE SCENE: They are stuck in a subway station for the night, so Chris pretends they are in the prehistoric age and must hide in a cave (bathroom) to keep cover from dinosaurs. Him holding the door with his foot and covering his sons ears is heart-wrenching.
her Oliver O'Grady, his victims from the past, and the Catholic political system that protected him. This is one of the most disturbing true stories I have ever seen. At parts it is hard to watch, especially when the families talk of losing their faith, but it is important for the church to look at these tragedies and find it's own flaws in order to be the Body of Christ it was called to be. Jesus, have mercy on us. FAVORITE SCENE: Watching the higher priests squirm when they are called out on their lies.5. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris) - The stor
y of a struggling, screwed up, but ultimately loving, family who are trying to get their daughter to the "Little Miss Sunshine" pageant. Oscars for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role- Alan Arkin and Best Writing for an Original Screenplay. Forget Juno. This is one of the best written comedies in the past ten years. Brilliant dialogue, lovable characters, and an endng that makes you wanna poop your pants with glee...if that's what you do in your moments of glee. FAVORITE SCENE: Everyone sitting around the dinner table for the first time since their gay, suicidal uncle (Steve Carrell) moved in.4. THE
PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (Gabriele Muccino) - The true story of a man named Chris Gardner (Will Smith) doing everything he can to make enough money to take care of his son, Christopher (Jaden Smith). Both Smiths give the most heartbreaking performances of 2006 that made me wanna cry like a baby. Lots of critics said this movies was too sappy and too happy (a rhyme!), but it was TRUE! FAVORITE SCENE: They are stuck in a subway station for the night, so Chris pretends they are in the prehistoric age and must hide in a cave (bathroom) to keep cover from dinosaurs. Him holding the door with his foot and covering his sons ears is heart-wrenching.3. PAN'S LABYRINTH (Guillermo del Toro) - Set in fascist Spain in 1944, 
a young girl (Ivana Baquero) enters into a fantasy world of giant frogs, fauns, and royalty in order to escape her life of abuse and oppression by her new stepfather (Sergi Lopez). Oscars for Best Achievement in Art Direction, Cinematography, and Makeup. Proof that fairy tales can be made for adults as well as kids (this is NOT for kids). Del Toro's vision is superb and haunting, and the acting is so real you will forget it is subtitled. FAVORITE SCENE: The young girl, Ofelia, is escaping from a monster with eyes on its hands who eats children.
2. THE DEP
ARTED (Martin Scorsese) - Two men (Leonardo Dicaprio, Matt Damon) go undercover on opposite sides of the law. Lots of people die. Oscars for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Achievements in Directing and Editing, and Best Writing for an Adapted Screenplay. So, when explained that way, it sounds kinda dumb. And maybe it is. But it is also completely engaging. All the acting (Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Bladwin) is so good the movie is basically telling you it's good without doing anything... but it does something, which makes it better (sorry, that made no sense.) FAVORITE SCENE: Ellerby (Baldwin) attacking someone within his own crew for screwing up.
a young girl (Ivana Baquero) enters into a fantasy world of giant frogs, fauns, and royalty in order to escape her life of abuse and oppression by her new stepfather (Sergi Lopez). Oscars for Best Achievement in Art Direction, Cinematography, and Makeup. Proof that fairy tales can be made for adults as well as kids (this is NOT for kids). Del Toro's vision is superb and haunting, and the acting is so real you will forget it is subtitled. FAVORITE SCENE: The young girl, Ofelia, is escaping from a monster with eyes on its hands who eats children.2. THE DEP
ARTED (Martin Scorsese) - Two men (Leonardo Dicaprio, Matt Damon) go undercover on opposite sides of the law. Lots of people die. Oscars for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Achievements in Directing and Editing, and Best Writing for an Adapted Screenplay. So, when explained that way, it sounds kinda dumb. And maybe it is. But it is also completely engaging. All the acting (Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Bladwin) is so good the movie is basically telling you it's good without doing anything... but it does something, which makes it better (sorry, that made no sense.) FAVORITE SCENE: Ellerby (Baldwin) attacking someone within his own crew for screwing up.1. THE DESCENT (Neil Marshall) - A group of young women go on a spel
unking expedition when they meet something they weren't expecting (DUH DUH DUHN!) Yeah, that's right, I picked a HORROR film as my favorite movie of 2006. If you like any kind of suspense/thriller/horror movie, then watch this! It is possibly the scariest movie I have ever seen. FAVORITE SCENE: When one of the women think's that she is stuck in one of the tunnels within the cave. Claustrophobic? Don't watch this!
RUNNER'S UP:
Children of Men, Jackass 2, Over the Hedge, The Prestige, Snakes On a Plane, V for Vendetta
PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW WRONG I AM!
unking expedition when they meet something they weren't expecting (DUH DUH DUHN!) Yeah, that's right, I picked a HORROR film as my favorite movie of 2006. If you like any kind of suspense/thriller/horror movie, then watch this! It is possibly the scariest movie I have ever seen. FAVORITE SCENE: When one of the women think's that she is stuck in one of the tunnels within the cave. Claustrophobic? Don't watch this!RUNNER'S UP:
Children of Men, Jackass 2, Over the Hedge, The Prestige, Snakes On a Plane, V for Vendetta
PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW WRONG I AM!
