Hello, one and all. Sorry for my absence for the last few weeks, it's been busy to say the least. And I know that I've only had movie blogs too, and I won't be changing things any now (I'm playing Bayonetta, so don't worry folks, reviews are in the future). Anyway, I think it is time to announce my all-time favorite films, namely, the top 20. Now before we begin, I'd like to point out that I WON'T have it in any particular order. Blame my indecisiveness. There's no particular criteria, these are just the 20 films I feel have impacted me in some way and stand at the zenith of my film collection. That's it, basically, I hope you enjoy the list.

Fargo (1996)
Directed by: Joel and Ethan Coen
Written by: Joel and Ethan Coen
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%

There truly is something special about Fargo. In its loneliness, in its subtlety, in its haunting vision of a plan gone horribly wrong. Even then, though, it doesn't paint the whole picture. The Coen brothers are legendary directors, not least because of their styIish tales and incredibly uniqe direction. More importantly, perhaps, is the ever-present dark humor. This is wonderfully represented in every frame of Fargo. Occurring in Missouri, there's all sorts of satire to be found, Examples are the exaggerated Scandinavian twang of the accents and the fact that most of the people in the movie have last names with, again, a Scandinavian origin (Lundegaard, Gunderson, Gustafson). It's not just the dry with that makes the film a masterpiece, however, its brilliance truly lies in the memorable cast. Frances McDormand is unforgettable as the startlingly realistic and kindMarge Gunderson, William Macy is spectacular as the high-strung Jerry Lundegard and Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare are chilling to the bone as the carefree kidnappers Carl and Gaear. The film is a constant joy to watch, plain and simple.

When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Written by: Nora Ephron
Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

And now for something completely different. There seems to be an innate fear within all men of liking a romantic comedy. It's almost like poison in their very bones. Personally, I'll never understand that. The main reason for that is that my choice for the prime example of that genre is so instantly lovable that nothing else really matters. Not only is When Harry Met Sally a film filled to the brim with charming performances and scenic beauty (Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal are magical together), but it's also one of the most quoatable films on earth. Not just the last speech, which is indeed fantastic, but also "I'll have what she's having", "But I would be proud to partake in your pecan pie", "It is so nice when you can sit with someone and not have to talk", "Yeah. But of course when I asked where she was when Kennedy was shot she said, "Ted Kennedy was shot?"" etc. Comedy gold, I tell ya. The film is a wonderful cIassic discussing love, friendship and a human need for companionship in some shape or form.

In Bruges (2008)
Directed by: Martin McDonagh
Written by: Martin McDonagh
Rotten Tomatoes score: 81%

If I were asked why I'm so fond of In Bruges, I don't think I'd be able to fully answer it. Maybe it's my obsession of anything with Ralph Fiennes in it, or maybe it's that in terms of movies, I've never seen anything like it. Whatever it is, In Bruges, much like Fargo, is special. When I think about it, the reasons for its singularity are similar to Fargo's. It's incredibly styIish, darkly comic and permeated by memorable performances. Jordan Prentice immediately jumps to mind as the dwarf Jimmy (a pivotal character, for very odd reasons), but the trio of Colin Farrel, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes is the star of the show. Farrel is brilliant here as the awkward, inexperienced Ray, while Gleeson's Ken is the complete opposite, almost fatherly in his manner. Fiennes is ridiculously good as the insane Harry. There's not much else I can say, the pace is breathtaking, Bruges is a beautiful town and the climax is shocking, to say the least. It's surreal, beautiful and gruesome, all at the same time.

The Truman Show (1998 )
Directed by: Peter Weir
Written by: Andrew Niccol
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

Has a movie ever made you think? I just don't mean think as in "Wow, that was an unexpected twist!" or "What an ending!" I mean really think, long and hard. The Truman Show is essentially a two-in-one combo: a story about a person in extremely unfair circumstances and a criticism on modern day obsession over the private lives of others. Truman is a prisoner without knowing it, stuck in a life that was made for him, built up from nothing and populated almost entirely by fictitious characters with the one goal of making Truman's life seem real. Because it isn't, it's a TV show with the entire world as an audience. Honestly, ever since seeing this film, I occasionally have the annoying feeling that this might be my life. I'm not paranoid, I snap out of it very quickly, but it's truly an uncomfortable whim of the imagination. In the same way, it really hits home on the point of public idolization of a select group of people: celebrities. Many see it as a given that they get the privilege of knowing everything about someone, unconditionally. When you think of it that way, The Truman Show is closer to reality than we fear to think. The film is tied together with Jim Carrey's finest performance, a touching score and one of the finest endings in film history. This is, without a doubt, among my top three favorite, even though the list is in no particular order.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Directed by: Henry Selick
Written by: Michael McDowell, Caroline Thompson, Tim Burton
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

The Nightmare Before Christmas is, single-handedly, the progenitor of such stop-motion films as The Corpse Bride and Coraline. Already it's a winner. However, it's not just on the technical side that TNBC marvels. The original story by Tim Burton is wonderfully dark and poetic, and it's perfectly adapted to the big screen here. Moreover, the ghoulish sets of Halloweentown (and the oddly uneasy atmosphere of Christmastown's perfection) set the stage for an adventure that is larger than death. *ba-dum-dum-tish!* The stop-animation is wonderful, the models are pretty much perfect and on the musical side, there are few movies ever with such catchy, wonderful and dark tunes. "This is Halloween" is of course one of the highlights. My favorite part of it all, however, is that it doesn't compromise its vision simply to be innocent. There are decapitations, skeletons, mutants and other scary visages that are toned down only to a level so that it's not blatantly violent. It makes the film all that more entrancing, all that more accessible and all that more entrancing.

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OK, those were the first five. The next part will be posted soon. Stay tuned!

-Calvinsora

Hello, everyone, and how are you? It's been some time, haven't had much time at all to be on GS and the like. A lot of stuff is happening in "la vie", if I may use some forced French on y'all. However, I have here reviews for three films that I liked a lot (in varying measures of course). I think it would be prudent to explain my very, very simple rating system for films:

0= 0 stars, absolute trash of the highest (lowest?) degree. A relatively rare score.

*= 1 star, a movie I really don't like, with very little in terms of redemption. Avoid.

**= 2 stars, a movie I don't like. Has one too many problems, though some good can be said about the film.

***= 3 stars, a movie I like. The film has some problems, but is generally a worthwhile film.

****= 4 stars, a movie I really like. Very little wrong with the film, highly recommended.

*****= 5 stars, a masterpiece in every meaning of the word. A relatively rare score.

Usually, I hand out 1 to 2 ***** ratings a year (Up in the Air was the sole receiver in 2009, for example), but 2010 was amazing. I've got some reviews left, so get ready to see some stars.

The King's Speech

The King's Speech is simply remarkable. In every facet of the direction, the acting and the writing, there's an irremovable sense of majesty. Fitting a theme considering what the film is about, understandably. The film is a beautiful tale of courage, adversity and friendship which transgresses social traditions. Tied with Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush's standout performances, The King's Speech is a film that is a continuous joy to watch.

Colin Firth takes on the role of the late king George VI, who before his inauguration was known as Bertie. For as long as he could remember, Bertie had been beset with a debilitating stammer. This didn't make him prime royal material in the eyes of his father, George V, which lead to Edward VIII the next person in line for the crown. However, after a scandal (a scandal for that era, at least), Bertie will have to take a huge step forward in his life, work on his stammer and become the next king. To achieve that goal, he must rely on the Australian voice coach Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), who has some unorthodox methods to cure his ailment.

The chemistry between Firth and Rush is simply divine. For every rash outburst from Bertie, Rush responds in an aloof matter completely unaffected by the fact that he's helping royalty. As the bond between them grows stronger, a friendship is struck up that is both convincing and likable. Firth is clearly in the best role he's been in since he started out in the film business and is stunning in his role of Bertie. Not only does he emulate a stammer perfectly (this reviewer knows someone with a stammer, as a reference), but his performance is amplified by how accessible he proves to be in the confines of privacy. One cannot forget Geoffrey Rush either, however, who is, for lack of a better word, adorable as the nonchalant voice coach.

There's a very sturdy supporting cast as well. Helena Bonham Carter plays Bertie's wife admirably while Guy Ritchie is perfect as the loose Edward VIII. Special mention goes to Timothy Spall for his portrayal of Winston Churchill, the inspiration for bulldog names all over the world.

The film's director, Tom Hooper, puts the film together with the utmost care. When the film looks like it's going to be overly dramatic, you get a ranting Bertie throwing around swear words like rice. Adversely, Hooper keeps the drama present to emphasize the difficulties of Bertie, shown prominently in the inner conflicts of Bertie, where he battles with his duties and responsibility. The ending is particularly powerful, and shows just how well Hooper built up the narrative. In that respect, the film's writer, David Seidler, of course deserves heaps of praise. Every character feels natural and the pace, as mentioned earlier, is simultaneously easy to follow and surprisingly entertaining given the subject matter.

The King's Speech is a lot of things. One of the finest examples of British cinema, proof of Colin Firth's deserving place in the upper echelons of acting pedigree, a wonderful combination of common values like friendship, determination and will. However, The King's Speech is first and foremost a sign that films can touch an audience of incredible diversity, all from the youngest to the oldest. This reviewer's theater was filled with people of all ages, all walking out with a smile on their face. That's an accomplishment that few have ever managed to achieve.

*****

Never Let Me Go

Some alternate reality films give rise to the question: "Could this happen in real life?" At first, one might scoff and say that the world we live in would not sink to such degradable levels, that the moral highground is ever present and maintained; then you get a gnawing feeling of doubt. There are daily examples of human injustice and avarice, so the alternate reality that the viewer is presented with starts to become exactly that: an alternate *reality*. Never Let Me Go is in that sense actually quite terrifying, but it also reminds you of the beauty of the human nature, its imperfections and its greatest strengths.

Based on the novel of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go tells of the experience of a young woman, Kathy (Mulligan) who is inextricably bound to a sordid fate. She is a future donor, someone who will have to donate her organs to extend the lifespan of another human being. The film focuses mostly on her upbringing and experiences, mainly with her friends Tommy (Garfield) and Ruth (Knightley). It's predictably tragic, since there's very little in terms of actual hope in any facet of the film. That does, however, amplify the great injustice imposed upon the trio and how it affects you as a viewer. The outside world is shown as alien, distant yet reliant upon what the donors give them. Their greed and need for self-preservation seems more malevolent and criminal than most other traditional film villain simply because of how ordinary it's made out to be.

It's a possible simile to events where a certain group of people is singled out as "creatures", not deserving any of the base human rights that are so ingrained in cultured societies. One needs not look further than in the second world war to see examples of such atrocities, so again the possibility doesn't seem so far off that humanity would stoop so low out of their own selfish needs. As with any film of this nature, that is a prime achievement, making you think "what if" instead of just telling a story.

The cast do a good job of delivering the prevalent pain of their lamentable fate, and the screenplay is handled brilliantly. The main three characters are of course highlights, though it sometimes feels like they don't reach their full acting potential in the film. The film's atmosphere is of tranquility and a "calm before the storm" feeling, but the characters are if anything almost constantly stoic. It's not in any way debilitating but one is left to wonder what could have been done with a slightly different approach. In the same way, the drama of some of the plot's key scenes feels oddly subdued, like more could have been done to really hit the point home. Maybe that subtlety is intentional, and at times it does manage to make situations more dramatic, but it often feels like a limiting factor.

As has been said, the subtlety is not a hindrance for the storytelling, which is in every way brilliant. It may prove to be too dramatic at times, since it really is a sad film. However, it's also incredibly thought-provoking and worth a watch by anyone intrigued with the inner workings of society. Maybe what really makes Never Let Me Go a great film is how you start questioning yourself at the end. If you were born in this world, would you protest or would you go along with it. The answer to that question is not as simple as one would initially think... and that's scary.

****

Just Go With It

Adam Sandler is, let's face it, a guy that will split opinion forever. He has a legion of people that would like nothing more than for him to disappear from the face of film history, while others really like him. I'm in the latter group, I do not understand people's dislike towards Sandler. He has hit rough times, though, and outside of Funny People, some time has passed since he made a film that really separated itself from any average comedy. Just Go With It is therefore a breath of fresh air. It's got some irritating problems, but it's filled with witty jokes and even manages to hit upon some important values.

The film's protagonist is the opportunistic plastic surgeon Danny, who uses the wedding ring from his failed first marriage to pick up women. However, his philandering days hit a roadblock when Danny meets Palmer (Decker), a young, attractive teacher over 15 years younger than him. He wishes to change his ways, and convinces his assistant Katherine (Aniston) to play out a web of lies he gets into trying to eliminate his past.

When push comes to shove, the story is wildly confusing from a realistic perspective. Many of the scenarios feel completely fake, and would most likely never happen outside of the theater. However, the film picks up the slack with a steady flow of humor and slapstick. Yes, you'll have to be into those sorts of things in the first place to really enjoy it. If you're a serious type into more sophisticated humor, your needs would be much better met elsewhere. However, if you just play it loose, the film proves to be at some points laugh-out-loud funny.

Another oddity is how unconvincing some relationships are. Not much will be mentioned to avoid spoiling the film, but Sandler's character, for instance, seems to still be more interested in a certain character near the end despite everything else. However, Sandler is also shown in a relatively different manner here than in many of his previous films. Danny is a rough personality, but proves to be a kind person as the film goes on. You identify with him on a more casual basis and root for his goals. The two kids of Katherine that appear in the film are also some of the film's greatest features, being both charming and devilishly smart at times. Overall, the acting is solid, though the film would greatly benefit from moving away from the stereotypical idolization of Palmer's appearance.

As has been mentioned, the film is far from being perfect, but it has a sort of likeability that is absent in most of the rom-com schlock that seems to pop up every single month of the year. It's a solid film that will please those looking for a heart-warming, funny, if slightly confusing flick.

***

-Calvinsora

Well, it's that time of year again (I love to use that phrase, don't I?), time for the Oscars! It's been a monumental year for the film industry, with endless heavy hitters wherevery you look, amazing performances, wonderful cinematography and overall cIass. I must say, I've never agreed with the Oscar board this much. Not 100%, but that's also expected. I won't go and lengthen what is an already long blog with a fancy introduction, but here I will list the nominees for my preferred categories, who I think will win and who I want to win.

Art Direction

"Alice in Wonderland"
Production Design: Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Karen O'Hara

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1"
Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan

"Inception"
Production Design: Guy Hendrix Dyas; Set Decoration: Larry Dias and Doug Mowat

"The King's Speech"
Production Design: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Judy Farr

"True Grit"
Production Design: Jess Gonchor; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh

Who I think will win: Hmm, probably True Grit

Who I want to win: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Inception would come a close second. There were some strong contenders here (though I'd replace Alice in Wonderland with 127 Hours), but Deathly Hallows Part 1 is truly beautiful in its combination of magical wonder and dreary, dreary death. Great Britain's various locales are utilized perfectly and that chase scene in the woods is fantastic. It sets the atmosphere and is one of the reasons for it being simply the best HP film to date.

Cinematography

"Black Swan" Matthew Libatique

"Inception" Wally Pfister

"The King's Speech" Danny Cohen

"The Social Network" Jeff Cronenweth

"True Grit" Roger Deakins

Who I think will win: Matthew Libatique

Who I want to win: Matthew Libatique

A really difficult choice here. All of the nominations are incredibly worthy of the prize (again, though, where is 127 Hours?), but Black Swan's ligthing and camera angles are just fantastically implemented. Black Swan is largely about illusion and deception, which is present in every facet of the film. This is particularly present during the final performance, what a show that is.

Directing

"Black Swan" Darren Aronofsky

"The Fighter" David O. Russell

"The King's Speech" Tom Hooper

"The Social Network" David Fincher

"True Grit" Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Who I think will win: Tom Hooper

Who I want to win: Darren Aronofsky

I'm tired of pointing out 127 Hours's absence, but seriously? Anyway, though I absolutely adore King's Speech, Aronofsky's vision is stunning. He makes the perfect choice regarding the main role (Natalie Portman) and he brings forth a film that is so brimming with raw emotion that it's at times frightening. Just superb in every way.

Film editing

"Black Swan" Andrew Weisblum

"The Fighter" Pamela Martin

"The King's Speech" Tariq Anwar

"127 Hours" Jon Harris

"The Social Network" Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

Who I think will win: Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

Who I want to win: Jon Harris

Very close battle here between Social Network and 127 Hours, but I personally appreciate the latter film's editing a bit more. It has to be a grueling task to make a pretty much solo performance supposed to stretch over 127 hours into a coherent experience. You never miss a beat, it feels taut throughout and there are some really clever uses of settings all over. A great job by Harris.

Music (Original Score)

"How to Train Your Dragon" John Powell

"Inception" Hans Zimmer

"The King's Speech" Alexandre Desplat

"127 Hours" A.R. Rahman

"The Social Network" Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Who I think will win: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Who I want to win: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Close second is Hans Zimmer for Inception. The Social Network is one of the few films where I remember the original score so clearly. It's both menacing and melancholy, and really sticks out in the best way possible.

Music (Original Song)

"Coming Home" from "Country Strong" Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey

"I See the Light" from "Tangled" Music by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater

"If I Rise" from "127 Hours" Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong

"We Belong Together" from "Toy Story 3" Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

Who I think will win: If I Rise

Who I want to win: If I Rise

Though I See the Light is really beautiful, If I Rise is a poignant summary of the message 127 Hours brings forth. It's beautifully sung by Dido and A. R. Rahman, with a great chorus near the end. A hauntingly beautiful piece in every way.

Visual Effects

"Alice in Wonderland" Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1" Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz and Nicolas Aithadi

"Hereafter" Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojansky and Joe Farrell

"Inception" Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb

"Iron Man 2" Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright and Daniel Sudick

Who I think will win: Inception

Who I want to win: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

I always feel like I'm snubbing Inception, but in this category, Deathly Hallows really is spectacular. The rampant colors sprouting out of those wands, the explosions and the great balance of dark and bright. And for what it's worth, Alice in Wonderland did look good, so it deserves that nomination at least.

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

"127 Hours" Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy

"The Social Network" Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin

"Toy Story 3" Screenplay by Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich

"True Grit" Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

"Winter's Bone" Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini

Who I think will win: Aaron Sorkin

Who I want to win: Aaron Sorkin

OK, here come the heavy hitters. The most wonderful part of The Social Network is the incredible screenplay by Aaron Sorkin, how it perfectly keeps up a steady pace and makes ever conversation an experience to behold. It's quite simply a work of art and is complimented further by David Fincher's direction. Some great teamwork there.

Writing (Original Screenplay)

"Another Year" Written by Mike Leigh

"The Fighter" Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson;Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson

"Inception" Written by Christopher Nolan

"The Kids Are All Right" Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg

"The King's Speech" Screenplay by David Seidler

Who I think will win: David Seidler

Who I want to win: David Seidler

Seidler's testament in bringing an authentic experience to the viewer is admirable. He treats the story with the utmost care and cIass. Like with Social Network, the conversations are absolute gold and it masterfully blends drama and light-hearted humor to create a joyful experience.

Actor in a Leading Role

Javier Bardem in "Biutiful"

Jeff Bridges in "True Grit"

Jesse Eisenberg in "The Social Network"

Colin Firth in "The King's Speech"

James Franco in "127 Hours"

Who I think will win: Colin Firth

Who I want to win: Either Colin Firth or James Franco

Fine, fine, I didn't quite make a final decision. But this one is really difficult. Colin Firth is incredible as the late king George VI, emulating a stammer *perfectly*, without a hitch. Meanwhile, James Franco is mind-blowing in 127 Hours, playing an utterly convincing Aron Rolston, who gets stuck in a crack in Blue John Canyon for 127 hours. In terms of the actual impact of the acting itself on the film, Franco has the edge. He's basically the solo star outside of some minor sides, while much of Firth's genious comes from his interaction with Geoffrey Rush. However, that doesn't downplay his portrayal one bit. Therefore, I cannot choose between them. Both were simply brilliant.

Actor in a Supporting Role

Christian Bale in "The Fighter"

John Hawkes in "Winter's Bone"

Jeremy Renner in "The Town"

Mark Ruffalo in "The Kids Are All Right"

Geoffrey Rush in "The King's Speech"

Who I think will win: Christian Bale

Who I want to win: Christian Bale

A close call, but Bale just edges out Rush in my mind, simply due to his incredible devotion towards authenticity. He completely changes himself into his role, a drug-addict with serious issues of self-control. He's completely unforgettable and adapts to his role in a way few actors ever could.

Actress in a Leading Role

Annette Bening in "The Kids Are All Right"

Nicole Kidman in "Rabbit Hole"

Jennifer Lawrence in "Winter's Bone"

Natalie Portman in "Black Swan"

Michelle Williams in "Blue Valentine"

Who I think will win: Natalie Portman

Who I want to win: Natalie Portman

If ever there was a slam-dunk in the Oscars, this is it. Not only does Natalie Portman show the best acting this year (IMO), but one of the greatest performances by any actor (or actress) ever. This role literally makes her one of the greatest actresses of her time and is a truly unforgettable instance of acting brilliance. You never doubt that her character has a fragile psyche about to burst, and her evolution into the black swan is mesmerizing. Absolutely astounding, she is brilliance caught on film.

Actress in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams in "The Fighter"

Helena Bonham Carter in "The King's Speech"

Melissa Leo in "The Fighter"

Hailee Steinfeld in "True Grit"

Jacki Weaver in "Animal Kingdom"

Who I think will win: Hailee Steinfeld

Who I want to win: *read below*

This category actually really annoys me for three reasons. One, though I haven't seen True Grit, Hailee Steinfeld seems to be one of, if not the most prominent character in the film. Why in the world is she here cIassified as in a supporting role? It's insulting, really. Two, though Helena Bonham Carter was good in King's Speech, I thought she was far better in Deathly Hallows Part 1. A truly definitive role for her, and it's ignored? Three, where is Chloe Moretz? I thought she was amazing in Kick-Ass, she would've been my choice for sure. And yet, she's missing. This category just disappoints me in so many ways, I choose to rather skip it.

Animated Feature Film

"How to Train Your Dragon" Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois

"The Illusionist" Sylvain Chomet

"Toy Story 3" Lee Unkrich

Who I think will win: Toy Story 3

Who I want to win: Toy Story 3

Tangled's disappearance is really weird, and How to Train Your Dragon is amazing, but I think it's an impossibility to match the emotional, comic and dramatic depths present in Toy Story 3. It really is a film for the ages, a movie that transcends age and expectations, emphasizing how maturity shapes people, how one interest can disappear so suddenly and how that affects those you cared for. A beautiful, beautiful tale that left me both laughing and on the verge of tears.

Best Picture

"Black Swan" Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers

"The Fighter" David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers

"Inception" Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers

"The Kids Are All Right" Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers

"The King's Speech" Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers

"127 Hours" Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers

"The Social Network" Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers

"Toy Story 3" Darla K. Anderson, Producer

"True Grit" Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers

"Winter's Bone" Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers

Who I think will win: The King's Speech

Who I want to win: Toy Story 3, The King's Speech, Black Swan, The Social Network, 127 Hours

Gah, who am I kidding? I can't choose my personal winner at all this year. It was really crystal clear last year for me (was District 9 before I saw Up in the Air, which then became my choice), but I'm flabbergasted at the sheer amount of quality here. I've seen 9 out of 10 of those films (have yet to see True Grit), and seven of them are definitely in my top 10. I'd replace Winter's Bone and The Kids Are All Right with Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Kick-Ass, but this is a really good list. I'll just try and explain why I love all of the films I mentioned above. I already talked about Toy Story 3, it's simply beautiful. The King's Speech is a prime example of British cinema and boasts some of the best chemistry of any actor duo between Firth and Rush. It's an astounding feat of storytelling excellence. Black Swan has one of the most memorable performances ever caught on screen in the form of Natalie Portman. Darren Aronofsky shows his true talent as a director and the film is in its entirety an engrossing look at a deteriorating mind. Few films I've seen have been so incredibly well put together. The Social Network is an expertly crafted retelling of the Facebook story, with amazing performances by the entire cast, amazing writing, David Fincher's tell-tale genius and great music. 127 Hours is another masterpiece from Danny Boyle, with superb writing and film editing. However, what's most prominent is the incredible performance by James Franco, he really is a contender to be wary of in the acting scene. Also, it's probably the most gut-wrenching film of this year for all the right reasons. I can't possibly pick one, I just can't. I love these films too much.

All right, this ends on quite a lazy note from me, but I hope you enjoyed the list. I'd love to hear the opinion of all of you, the readers. Variety is the spice of life, now let me taste it! Now, enjoy the Oscars tomorrow, film fans, it's sure to be amazing. It starts at around midnight here where I live, but I'll try and stay awake for as long as I can. Salut for now, friends.

-Calvinsora

Blech. Time to wash my hands of this title. Anyway, here is the review (it's short if you're interested in reading it) of Dead Space Ignition. Read if you dare. Just a bad, bad title. Not the worst I've played, but quite atrocious. I also got Vagrant Story, it's very quirky but quite entertaining. Now, I must go try and understand the game:P

Ciao, amigos and amigas! (the Spanish might be wrong)

-Calvinsora

I don't know why I added question after inquiry, you folks should know what that means :P Anyway, two things this time. First, I've finished my review of the amazing Mass Effect 2 on the PS3 and it can be found here. As always, any comments would be lovely but only read it if you truly want to, no pressure or need to do so.

Secondly, I have a desperate spending need in me at the moment, and have 16 pounds to spare on the UK PSN store. Now, a few things. Firstly, I really want Vagrant Story (made by the same people as FFT and FFXII, oh yes), and have heard good things. Any personal accounts? Also, since I'm a retro gamer as well (want to be, anyway), I'd love to try out a Neogeo game at some point. Is Metal Slug the best bet, or should I wait out for something else? Also, is the X-men Arcade game fun? A lot of questions, I'm sorry :P I hope you're all doing well, the last month has hopefully been good for y'all, and I wish you all a good February too :)

See you on the flipside,

Calvinsora

Silly censoring, that's not a swear word! Ugh. Hey y'all, I know I've been very lazy at everything in terms of blogging, but I'll give you a treat instead: two reviews! Aren't I awesome? I know I am. Anyway, these reviews are of the films "The Fighter" and "Little Fockers", one is fantastic, the other is horrible. Guess which is which. Here they are:

The Fighter review

There have been myriad films with boxers fighting to reach the top, striving to better those that have come before and were inspirations to the boxer. In some ways, The Fighter doesn't stray too far from the developed setting of the "rising star" boxer. However, it manages to stand out due to the powerful performances of the cast. It's transformed into a more serious, more compact tale of not only athletic prowess but of maternal, fraternal and romantic love. Also of note is that the film is based on true events, which is punctuated at the end of the film brilliantly.

Dicky (Bale) and Micky (Wahlberg) are two disparate brothers with one common passion: boxing. Dicky is at this point a burned-out drug addict who clings to his defeat of Sugar Ray Leonard many years back in his career. Meanwhile, Micky struggles to keep out of the mire of defeat, often treated as a simple stepping stone. Micky's trainer has always been Dicky, while the manager is his ambitious mother. Needless to say, this set-up isn't ideal for him and he therefore seeks a better alternative.

Though Wahlberg portrays Micky in a skillful manner, Bale single-handedly steals the show with his amazing take on his role. He is utterly convincing whether it be in his over-blown bravado over former glories or his jumpiness undoubtedly caused by drug abuse. It's a far cry from many of his former films and The Fighter shows just how flexible of an actor he is. That's not to say that the rest of the supporting cast is in any way disappointing. Amy Adams, who plays the love interest of Micky, is particularly memorable.

Another great aspect of the film is the different filmingstyIes of the everyday events and the several boxing matches. During the matches, you see everything as if you were seeing it full-screen on a TV monitor, with the traditional grain effect and frantic cinematography. It lends a sense of realism to the fights, bringing you oddly enough more into the events than you would with a normal filter.

The film does stagger at times when it comes to pacing, since it gets off to a slow start that feels more uneventful when compared to the later two-thirds or so. During those times, the focus often goes to the familial ties of Micky, which are in constant flux in terms of solidarity. More focus on Micky and Dicky's childhood would've been more ample, since we don't get to see as much in what's gone wrong in the past. It's necessary build-up all things considered but it tends to feel a bit heavy-handed.

The Fighter is an undoubtedly superb film, with an amazing performance by Christian Bale and a refreshing take on a Rocky-esque tale of redemption. It sometimes takes too much time in telling what it has to say, but those slow moments work together to make the glorious crescendos that appear in between. Though it seems to be so on the outside, The Fighter is much more than just another boxing movie and is one of the finest films to be released in 2010.

****

Little Fockers review

It's tragic to see this comedy trilogy come to a close in such a lazy and formulaic manner. The first film, in this reviewer's opinion, is a comedy cIassic with an exemplary look at a paranoid connection between father-in-law and son-in-law. The second film was a bit more focused on more simple jokes and slapstick, but was pushed forward by great performances from the cast and a clever, if traditional, script. So it's unbelievable how low-key Little Fockers really is. Talent is wasted, boring jokes are thrown around and the story is a complete rehash of everything that has come before.

There is an initial promise that this film now focuses on the family life of Greg and Pam Focker, who now have two kids in their home and are on the look-out for the finest preschools available to them. However, this is not the case at all. Whereas they could have worked on the strain of parental duties on a relationship and the different roles of each family member, they instead decide to crowbar *another* tale where Jack Burns, Greg's father-in-law, suspects foul play in their relationship. The children only appear as an after-thought, providing only a few subtle twists on the familiar formula. Now, supposedly, Jack is thinking about his grandchildren but he's portrayed more as a megalomaniacal tyrant with no common sense or compassion for anyone but himself. This is not acceptable, since even though he displayed overplayed worries in the former films, you could always at some point relate to him due to his caring nature towards his daughter. This time, he's just a bully.

Most of the cast do their job adequately (Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro do have a good acting chemistry), since when push comes to shove, they can still act. However, it's the script that is their downfall. The jokes are painfully predictable, and when they're not, they're just plain bad. Occasional jokes will manage to make you smile, but they're too few and far between. Meanwhile, the aforementioned plot reeks of familiarity every step of the way. It doesn't help that Jessica Alba was brought in to play the supposed temptress, and effectively makes a fool of herself as a most bewildering persona in the film, a drug rep with a drug problem. Another rather odd inclusion is Dustin Hoffman. He was until the last second supposed to be absent from the film, but he was (very obviously) pushed in at the last second. It makes his character not only seem forced, but inherently awkward.

It's a shame that the film didn't focus more on the kids, since they are likeable enough and would've offered a different look on each given character. Instead, they're shoved to the sidelines while Greg and Jack once more duel with their frustrations, for the third bloody time in their lives. This happens despite the fact that both of the former two films end in them being good friends, and Greg staying in Jack's "circle of trust", and needless to say, that's how this film ends too. Luckily, there won't be further chances to exploit the tales of the Focker family due to this being the finale. This is not only a disappointment, but an insult to the fans of the series. It's completely irrelevant, devoid of wit and borderline lazy. This is not how to make a sequel, this is how to make a tragedy.

*

Ach, I've been tagged again. I actually like it, really, since I love lists. I'm not gonna go too much into the fine details, but this tag started with khoofia_pika, celebrating his five years on GS. Now, I've only been here for about two years (a bit less, but I'll be doing a CRAZY anniversary blog in February), but I've got some interesting stats to throw about. Here we go!

Profile Views: 2031

Friends: 237

Games In My Collection: 458

Games In My Wish List (Currently): 38

Games I Am Following: 347

Forum Posts: 6937

Comments: 47

Blog Posts: 116

Union Blog Posts: 11

Games Reviewed: 52

Games Rated: 52

Tags: 1031

Series Most Reviewed: Metroid (Prime 1, 2, 3, Other M and Super Metroid)

Consoles Owned: GBC, GBA, GBA SP, DS, PSP, PS1, PS2, PS3, N64, GC, Wii

Favourite Union: GameSpot's Reviewers Union

Officer of: 1 union

Was Leader of:No union

Favourite Union Leader: @gdw0908

Favourite Union Officers: @charizard1605, @khoofia_pika, @asian_pride69 (everyone in GRU, really)

Favourite Reviewers: @Kevin-V, @TomMcShea, @LarkAnderson, @JusticeCovert (the reason I don't list more union reviewers is that I just generally love reading different views from different people, so the list would be enormous. So instead, I choose the reviewers I look up to the most)

Favourite Board: GameSpot Reviewers Union Board

Favourite Thread: General Games Discussion on the GRU board

Times Suspended: Never

PS: There was one mix-up where I was suspended momentarily, but it was a mistake by the mod.

"ACCORDING TO ME" STUFF

Favourite Series: Mario, then Final Fantasy

Favourite Game: Final Fantasy X

Favourite Genre: RPG, platformers

Favourite Console: PS2

Best Xbox 360 Game: Don't own one

Best PS3 Game: Metal Gear Solid 4

Best Wii Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2

Best DS Game: The World Ends With You

Best PSP Game:Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Best PC Game: Age of Mythology

Best Last Gen Game: Final Fantasy X

Best Old Time Game: Super Mario Bros. 3

Top 5 Games of All Time (In Order): Final Fantasy X, Kingdom Hearts, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Super Mario Bros. 3, Metal Gear Solid 4

Most Overhyped Game Of This Generation: I don't like to use the word overhyped, but if there's a popular game I don't like nearly as much, I'd say Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.

Most Underhyped Game Of This Generation: BioShock 2

Yay, lists! Anyway, for those that read the list, I hope it was educating. Because learning about me is more awesome than any biology cIass. I'm THAT cool. See ya later, folks, I'm off to make a biology presentation. I might tag someone later.Salut!

-Calvinsora

4. Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep (PSP)

-X-shaped straps are the fashion, apparently.

I wasn't exactly impressed with the last entry in one of my most beloved series, aka Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. It's a good game, but it felt more like a smaller version of something greater. Birth by Sleep most certainly could've gone down the same path, but it completely shattered my expectations. The combat system has been revamped once more, but now with an incredibly accessible yet deep ability system. You can perform magic and special attacks if they are equipped, and after a certain amount of time, you can use it again. Level up those abilities and you can combine them to get new techniques. Not only that, you can partake in a great board game to level them up further. Just this aspect is intriguing, but that isn't all. The combat and exploration aspects are all-round incredibly enjoyable, the story is back to being about a blend of Disney and Square sensibilities, you have three distinct, long campaigns to play through, you can play with your friends online in arena matches and minigames, the music is awesome (outside of Bippity Boppity Boo, a 15 second replay of the same song isn't entertaining!), there is a plethora of other mini-games to play through and it all looks really nice as well. It's just an overall amazing package, packed with content and loveliness. It's a throwback to the good ol' KH quality. Now, Kingdom Hearts 3!

3. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (PSP)

-I just wanted to display the glorious details this game boasts. Wow.

I never imagined a PSP game would ever be in my top 5 list. It's no secret that I've been, well, unfair to the little hulk. So it's with great pleasure that I'm not only proven wrong, but dead wrong since there are TWO PSP games present in my top 5. Imagine that. Anyway, I'm a huge fan of the MGS series. The stealth, the story, the environments, the variety; it's a trademark of quality, brought to us by none other than Hideo Kojima. However, I'd call the previous PSP MGS installment a problematic experiment. Most of the features suffered from the smaller device and more limited control functions, so an evolution was in order. That's exactly what PeaceWalker is, an evolution of both Portable Ops (aka MGS PSP 1) and many of the former titles in the series. Like Birth By Sleep, it's a complete package, filled with various attractions and options. The story is true cIass, telling a chilling Cold War story about betrayal, duty and fraternity. It's not quite as engaging and entwined with humor as some of the other titles, but it's smart beyond measure, and the voice acting is one of a kind. There are also over 200 missions, all with varying objectives. There's a multiplayer feature, dozens of equipment options, incredible opportunities to manage resources and more.It would take way too long to list all of the options (just see my review if you want more). The greatest triumph, however, is the controls. They just feel right in every sense of the word, melding perfectly to create a seamless experience. Finally, just look at that picture above. The game looks THAT great. Any MGS fan will love this, and even those that haven't been able to connect with the series thus far might find themselves enjoying this title. It strikes a fine balance between story, gameplay and presentation, and is an overall masterpiece.

My review: 9.3/10.0

2. BioShock 2 (PS3)

-Drill in the FACE!

I'm not in my nature much of an FPS man. To be more precise, I don't like realism in FPSs. It depresses me. So BioShock amazed me when I first laid my hands on it, and I still deify it to this day. Needless to say, BS2 was at the forefront of must-need titles of 2010 for me. Luckily, BS2 does everything a sequel should do: improve while remembering what was great about the original in the first place. The plasmids, splicers, big daddies, audio diaries, underwater locales and nostalgic music are back, but it's all better than before. Just the ability to be able to dual-wield is a revelation in combat. You can lay on the hurt like never before, and the weapons have been improved in handling as well. Gone is the tedious lock minigame and instead comes a speedy yet tricky lock system to test your reflexes. You no longer take pictures of enemies, you record them. The minute details and the grand details, it all feels more natural and easier to grasp, while retaining the entertaining core of the BS formula. The key to the awesomeness still lies with two things, however: the setting and the story. Never have I felt as much at home in such a derelict and dystopian world. Going back to Rapture was, well, rapturous and it can still get you to stare in awe at all the detail put into each room. It blends well with the "blast to the past" environment of Rapture, where you'll hear some achingly nostalgic tunes from bygone eras. The story retains it's sharply written form, but has some radically different emphases. You play as a prototype Big Daddy, an oddly relatable character looking desperately for his Little Sister. He must go against Sophia Lamb, a wolf in sheep's clothing (pun intended) and the main fixation of a recent cult in the fallen city. I won't go too far into the details, let's just say that it's a heartbreaking tale, told in an incredibly delicate yet powerful manner. Add to that the great multiplayer and by golly you've got an amazing title. It's a shame that the spiritual sequel isn't due until 2012. But the wait will undoubtedly be worth it.

My review: 9.3

1. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

-One is already annoying enough, but four normal ones and a giant? Preposterous!

Well, this shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that knows me in the slightest. I have been unbelievably blatant about my love for SMG2, from my third ever 10.0 score to my constant salivating over it on union boards and forums, the fact that it nabbed by top spot for 2010 is, if anything, inevitable. But I'm here to explain why it's here, why it's the top of the top, why this is in my opinion the best game conceived in this gaming generation. Mario has a history of quality in so many fields, from the groundbreaking Super Mario Bros. to the dimension-flipping Paper Mario series, our mustachioed plumber has had his brown shoes in most puddings of the gaming spectrum. It's also no secret that the general concept of Mario is wafer thin at best, save the princess and... that's it. That's EXACTLY what makes Mario so amazing. There's no fluff, no distractions, just lovely design and incredible variety. It's less about improvement and more about simply being better than everything before it. In many ways, the first game (SMG1),as good as it was, was a tutorial to the main course that is the delicious SMG2. It's more challenging, bigger and simply more fun, and I can't completely explain why. Playing SMG2 reminds me why I play games. This is an overused statement, sure, but it's literally the truth. I can't remember how long it's been since I felt just this happy playing a game, at least not since the release of my beloved Kingdom Hearts way back in my early teen years. It's a game that focuses completely on what defines the medium, the joy of clearing an obstacle, the excitement in exploring new worlds, the wonder when you realize that once the game is finished, there's still so much left to do. To check whether I wasn't just going a bit overboard, I left the post-credits content for later so I could see if it retained the same quality about half a year later. It did. It most certainly did. Once I finished the game 100%, I even found myself just playing the game over again, now trying to get better finish times. Considering that I never do that, SMG2 must be something exceptional. Everything about it, from the smooth platforming, the amazing level design, thegrand orchestral track, the great visual presentation, the expansive post-game... it all just clicks. I'd call it a vanguard of gaming fundamentals, but that would be underplaying why SMG2 is as good as it is: it nails everything it needs to nail. Plain and simple. Nintendo EAD have impressed me countless times, but it isn't until now that I consider them to be the greatest team of developers gaming has ever had. Props for that.

My review: 10.0

Well, isn't this a doozy? I hope those that endured the entire list enjoyed it, and if you couldn't read it all, I don't blame you. However, with this, I say goodbye to the 2010 of gaming and say hello to 2011, and all the treasures it holds in the future. Happy New Year, everyone, and let's enjoy what is waiting for us!

When I look back on 2010, I keep getting surprised about how good this year really was. Every system had a great year, almost every genre, and the gamers, therefore, got a sweet deal indeed. So here, I wish to honor those games that this year stood out in quality. A few things first: This was supposed to be a full top 15 list, but I went way over the maximum character amount, so I'll rather split this into three parts. Also, I haven't played all games of 2010, and don't share the opinions of everyone. OK, no more delays, let's just get to it.

9. Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)

-Beautiful artistic representation or a particular sort of color blindness?

YES! HE'S BACK! While watching this year's E3, nothing gave me as much of a happy-chill as the announcement that Donkey Kong was coming back. Boo-yah! And by "Metroid Prime" Retro Studios? Yes, yes, yes! I'm a fan of the original DKC games, and a big fan of DK in general, so I was psyched. Luckily, it did not disappoint as it stands now as one of the finest 2D platformers of the last few years. Its brilliantly designed levels, wealth of content and funky tunes are everything I could've hoped for in a DK title. It also adds a lot of bells and whistles to the fray, like the jet pack glide feature for Diddy, a shake attack, climbing vine walls and more. The roll function, activated by shaking the remote, isn't perfectly implemented, and the game isn't too long to go through if you aim just for the KONG letters, However, when the package is so delicious, you gotta bite. The fun platforming, relentless banana action and general tomfoolery make DKCR an irresistible package. You might say *pause for effect* it's more fun than a barrel of monkeys *ba-dum-dum-TISH* After reeling from that abomination of a joke, just remember: this is Retro Studios. They are geniuses. Period.

8. Professor Layton and the Lost Future (DS)

-Now THAT is a big clock.

Professor Layton is one of those series that I love despite the fact that it makes me feel stupid countless times throughout the journey. Maybe that's just what's so magical about it, you want to play more, learn more, think more. The puzzles are more fiendish, more clever, more entertaining with every step. Most of all though, I just love the cozy nature of the game, you can just take your time and solve what you need to solve at your own pace. Get a cup of coffee or tea, sit down and enjoy some Layton. In that sense, I have to say that Lost Future is the best yet. Not only does it have a set of smart, complex, often tough but always fair puzzles, but there are also three smart mini-games added to the mix, which are even more complex than the mini-games in the second title. They're all charming and fun, not to mention cerebral delights. The puzzles are also more balanced, with far less annoying sliding puzzles (thank you!). A pleasant surprise is the story, which despite being a bit bonkers at times is also heart-warming and entertaining to partake in. Throw in a great soundtrack and you have a perfect game to take on the road or to your bed,perfect forrelaxing and enjoying some great puzzling. Layton, my boy, you've done it again.

7. Vanquish (PS3)

-Sensory overload!

Vanquish is a bombastic experience, to put it lightly. You'll barely play a game with more explosions, chaos and action happening on-screen this year, or a game with quite so much unrelenting attempts to be styIish. Lucky for the devs, they succeeded in their endeavour to be exhilirating every step of the way. The story is daft, and so are most of the characters, but it's all done in an oddly entertaining matter. It's overall insignificant, though, when you look at what it does so well. Everything from the shooting, the slow-mo mode, the melee, the dashing around on your suit's jets, it's all so amazingly cool. It's not just the same action over and over either. You'll dash over falling bridges, snipe out guard lights, push away enormous globe-like robots away from an ally vehicle, fight flying mechs and destroy huge robotic giants. It's done in a jiffy, but to be honest, I didn't fully respect the full entertainment value of Vanquish until I played it twice. It's just as, if not more, fun the second time through, and you get to employ completely different strategies too. I don't often play games twice through in such a short time, so it's a testament to just how much fun can be found in Vanquish. It's chic, fast, exciting and with more replay value than most other games this year. Now, I need to get my hands on Bayonetta...

6. Red Dead Redemption (PS3)

-Much more exciting than Formula 1, it isn't even funny.

Right off the bat, I must mention that I'm not a big fan of open-world games. That's not to say that I think it's an inherently bad implement or that I don't buy games with that system, but a game needs to do a splendid job to convince me that the world is worth it. In short, that's what Red Dead Redemption does perfectly. The world is teeming with life, is authentic, beautiful and wonderfully serene. You can pick flowers, hunt animals (don't do this in real life, mind!), ride your horse at top speeds or partake in various wild west games. It's just amazingly fun andengrossing to ride around the vast landscapes with the setting sun on the horizon, with nothing but the rustle of grass and your horse's hooves smashing the ground standing between you and absolute silence. If anything, that's what I love most about RDR. It's not the only thing, though. The combat is exciting and the Dead Eye function makes for intense shoot-outs. The mission spectrum is also vast, and despite some missions not being quite so engaging (herding is not so much fun, really), it makes for a more diverse experience in its stead. Also, I cannot fore-go the story, which is a sad tale about redemption, loss and duty. John Marston isn't one of those bald soldiers we see every day, he's a genuinely caring and strong character, with a kind and righteous heart. Some technical problems remain, but they don't matter in the grand scheme of things. RDR is atmospheric, touching and just plain fun. And I'm not even a big cowboy fan.

My review: 9.2

5. Final Fantasy XIII (PS3)

-This is the costume the pope WISHES he could wear.

As a long-time FF fanatic, my anticipation for FFXIII was immense, In fact, it was so immense that I was afraid I might get disappointed by hyperbole. Well, I wasn't, though it wasn't exactly what I expected in the first place. When a series gets as long and prolific as FF, there's bound to be change, and with change comes a whole bedlam of different views. This has happened with all titles X onward. The changes in XIII are many, but I'm not much for dwelling on that. After all, linearity isn't inherently bad at all. The combat is fantastic, it's fast and styIish while being deceptively deep and manageable. Each battle has a sense of urgency and speed. The bosses are also incredible, and I still remember the epic final battle. However, what really surprised me is the world in FFXIII. It's brilliantly designed, immensely grand and achingly beautiful in ways I can't explain. That ties in nicely with what are, in my opinion, the finest graphics I've ever seen. If graphics are done in an exemplary manner, it can only help. The soundtrack is a big step-up from XII and the story, though awfully paced at first, becomes incredibly engaging later on. Lightning is also amazing, I absolutely love her. The game lasts a long time, too, and you have a lot of deadly quarries to battle after the game ends, and highlight perfectly the hidden subtleties of FFXIII's combat system. Superb, I say, and a triumph in the RPG scene. I, for one, love it.

My review: 9.2

The final four will be revealed very soon, so once again, stay tuned!

-Calvinsora

When I look back on 2010, I keep getting surprised about how good this year really was. Every system had a great year, almost every genre, and the gamers, therefore, got a sweet deal indeed. So here, I wish to honor those games that this year stood out in quality. A few things first: This was supposed to be a full top 15 list, but I went way over the maximum character amount, so I'll rather split this into three parts. Also, I haven't played all games of 2010, and don't share the opinions of everyone. OK, no more delays, let's just get to it.

15. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game (PS3)

-The metro is just getting more and more violent.

This isn't a movie tie-in, and I can't stand it. This could've been proof that there do indeed exist good movie-licensed games. Not that they don't exist, they do, but they're super rare. However, enough of my ranting, and on to why SPVTW: TG is awesome (a mouthful, for sure). Just like the movie, and probably the comic it's actually based on, the game is a game for nerds. It's at its core a very simple, entertaining bash 'em up clearly influenced by the great River City Ransom. What makes it stand out, however, is its presentation. The visuals are in gorgeous 32-bit, and the music is made by Anamanaguchi. Needless to say, it's amazing stuff that taps right into the nostalgia of the good old days. Add to that all the entertaining pop culture references and there's a lot of stuff to see in each pixel of the screen. Don't get me wrong, in gameplay, it's still awesome; but what makes it stand out is the heart, the soul, the nerdiness. That's what I like to see.

14. Metroid: Other M (Wii)

-Hugging always ends in friendship.

Though it is with a tear that I see Retro Studios leave the Metroid franchise, Other M surprised me in many ways. It's more about what the expectations were and how the overall package actually balances out. The oh-so talked about story? Not that good. The gameplay and bosses? Much more awesome. It does a lot of new stuff, for instance blending third and first person views to great effect. The combat is fast and intense, the environments grand and beautiful, the production values lavish and colorful. Though Samus isn't nearly as cool here as she usually is, I do appreciate that more is put into making something out of her. Get rid of Adam next time, OK devs? The flaws are there, but considering just how much fun I had with cruising around the Bottle Ship destroying everything with brutal force, I can't fault it for the more trivial matters. But why do you need authorization to use the Varia Suit?! Why?!

My review: 8.5

13. Pac-Man Championship Edition DX (PS3)

-Epileptics beware, this is going to be flashy.

Pac-Man has the particular distinction of being the first gaming celebrity ever. Before him, there were just generic human-shaped white blotches, Supposedly, it all started with a pizza missing a slice, which then changed into a pill-obsessed yellow... thing, roaming around dark alleys and eating ghosts when empowered. How far we've gone since then. Pac-Man has always been fun, but this is just amazing. There are so many new nuances, new features and subtle customizations, but you're mission is still the same. Though the above neon styIe is one of the options, you can choose from cIassic Pac-Man to 3D Pac-Man, and you're also able to switch music, ghost numbers, difficulty and a few more things. You'll zoom about, gaining up speed by picking up ghosts behind you, forming a queue behind you before gobbling up a power pellet and eating them in one fell swoop. Not only is that satisfying, but colorful, fast and frantic. Tie to that the bombs and bullet-time implementation, the score attack and time trials, and you have the perfect pick-up-and-play type of game, available for a low PSN price. Fan-bloody-tastic.

12. Joe Danger (PS3)

-I'm guessing he won't be around for the press conference...

Joe Danger loves the obvious: Danger! After taking a small break, he's back to race for the title of greatest biker around and needs all of his tricks to do so. To me, Joe Danger embodies the PSN experience: it's addictive, entertaining, varied, colorful, filled with content and charming to top it all off. To be honest, I haven't played everything Joe Danger has to offer, but to me, that just shows what kind of game it is. You can pick it up whenever you want, have fun with it, and leave more for later. The game, though driven by various tasks whether it be star collecting or trick performing, is completely tolerant towards any sort of experimentation. You can hang around a track just trying out all sorts of tricks (my favorite is performing a constant wheelie while stringing together crowd waves and insane forward flips in the air), and it´s all incredibly simple and accessible. Support this game is all I have to say, the lead dev actually sold his house for the game. And looking at the end product, you can see all the effort put into making it a game for everyone, not just fans of motorbikes or extreme sports. So get your danger on, and choose Joe!

11. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (PS3)

-And Dormin said to him... wait, completely wrong game.

If I was told that a 3D Castlevania game would've actually worked at the start of the year, I would've laughed and brushed it off. Yes, I'm usually a bubbly, optimistic chap, but what I've seen of the 3D attempts in the CV universe, I wasn't completely convinced that that would ever happen. However, I'm happy I was wrong. Not only does CV: Lords of Shadow deliver amazing, brutal combat and smart, methodical bosses, it also boasts beautiful vistas, a grand, sweeping score and a lot of extras. Even the story, though cheesy, was delivered with panache and had some nice twists. Though I have nothing against the GoW series, I really like it, I felt that this game had an overall better balance between traditional hack 'n' slash fighting and deeper combinations of magic and combo-building. Of course, I'm just comparingLoS toGoW. There are plenty more games in the action genreand comparing isn't really anything I find helps too much. But it helps explain what difference I feel is relevant. In GoW, the combat is noticeably fast and floaty. In LoS, it's more slow and meaty, and that's the way I love it. It's also a long journey, so LoS offers high-octane action with Hollywood-finesse, and never relents completely through to the end. No Symphony of the Night, but it doesn't have to be to be good, eh?

My review: 8.9

10. Heavy Rain (PS3)

-This is the punishment for bad hygiene!

Quantic Dream, dare I say, is one of the most ambitious developers in the business today. Now, I'm a stark supporter of gameplay first, everything else to the side. However, as time passes and new games come along, I feel more and more that the video game industry shouldn't operate under particular restrictions. If it's done well, it deserves a purchase. The other game from them I've played, Fahrenheit (or Indigo Prophecy), had a lot of great ideas, and I thought the execution was actually quite great too. But the story, after being so well-developed at first, falls apart near the end. Not so good considering that was the main focus. Heavy Rain does this much better. If there's any game this year that genuinely affected me emotionally, it's this game's story. It's true that in its essence, it's not much more than a traditional story of crime, but what gaming does is turn something ordinary into something much stronger. That's the case with Heavy Rain. Though I wasn't a big fan of Madison (despite trying, they still made her more eye candy than anything else), all of the other arcs were heavily emotional, and the scenes with Ethan Mars are genuinely heartbreaking. It's in creating scenarios where you genuinely care for the characters where Heavy Rain shines most. The controls still need work, but everything else has been improved from Fahrenheit and it's all just much more engaging. Oh, and the Lizard Trial will never leave my mind. Ever.

My review: 9.0

The next part of the list will come very, very soon. Stay tuned!

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Top 100 reviewers emblem

To my great surprise, the GS community staff feltI wasworthy of the top 100 reviewers emblem. I may seem calm now, but when I saw that I had received it, I felt as if a mighty goal had been achieved. I first and foremost want to thank everyone that has taken their time to read and comment on my reviews, I appreciate it to no end and I literally couldn't have gotten the emblem without you. I also wish to thank GS for having such a good way of encouraging community contributions. Many, many thanks.

-Calvinsora