My Favorite Movies of 2010

1. Toy Story 3

Most have come to expect greatness from Pixar, but 'Toy Story 3' is undisputed Oscar material- and not just in the animated category, either. At the very least, it deserves a nomination for 'Best Picture,' and I'd venture that it deserves to win.

2. Harry Brown

Michael Caine is at his best - as if he ever isn't- in a brutal film which might be measured as a halfway point between 'Gran Torino' and 'Taken,' but, like those other two films, sits comfortably in it's own category.

"You failed to maintain your weapon, son."

3. Kick-Ass

It's difficult to describe the sweet surprise that comes with one's first viewing of 'Kick-Ass.' But one phrase would be "HELL YES!!" Not appropriate for audiences who disapprove of Quentin Tarantino-style violence.

The true star of the film: Chloe Moretz as Hit Girl.

4. The Book of Eli

*Spoiler Alert* 'Mad Max' meets Christianity. Denzel Washington as the wandering "Eli" proves that faith and manliness go hand-in-hand. Gary Oldman as the power-worshipping "Carnegie" helps make it a wonderful experience.

"We walk by faith, not by sight."

5. True Grit

A good, solid Western if I ever saw one. Not as intense as 'Unforgiven,' but arguably an improvement on the original (Besides John Wayne, of course). Hailee Steinfeld also makes an unforgettable debut as Mattie Ross, outperforming costar Matt Damon with ease. Jeff Bridges is no John Wayne, but he wears an eyepatch well and handles the role of Rooster Cogburn nicely.

6. Let Me In

As tender as it is terrifying (think Nicholas Sparks meets Stephen King). But mostly terrifying.

Believable performances by child actors Kodi Smit-Mcphee ('The Road') and Chloe Moretz ('Kick-Ass') as well as an old-fashioned, subtle filming style help make this the best vampire movie in decades, surpassing even the original Swedish film.

7. Iron Man 2

It may lack a "jump-out-of-your-seat" moment (i.e. when Iron Man punched an Islamic terrorist in the first film), but you just can't deny how damned entertaining this sequel is. Mickey Rourke plays the villain with gusto, and Scarlett Johansson proves once and for all that you CAN beat up henchmen and look good while doing it.

And did I mention the explosions?

8. Resident Evil: Afterlife

Sometimes you just can't trust critics. Or your friends, for that matter.

Despite bad reviews, I enjoyed every minute of the fourth entry in the 'Resident Evil' franchise. Milla Jovovich is one of the best genre actresses around, and she's not bad-looking either. Leave your brain at the door, and enjoy the party.

9. From Paris With Love

Bald is badass. 'Nuff said.

10. The Expendables

Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li, Bruce Willis, and every other action star under the sun, with the conspicuous absence of a certain Texas Ranger. Absolutely necessary viewing if you consider yourself a fan of action movies. There are no surprises here, but it's all worth it for a couple hours of mindless escapism.

Return of the Badasses (Pardon my French)

It’s Monday, August 09, 2010, and we’re counting down to ‘The Expendables’, starring every action hero you can imagine- well, besides Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal, and Van Damme. But seriously, everybody else is in it. From Sly Stallone to the high-kicking Jet Li, and even some cage fighter I’ve never even heard of, the newest film honoring the great American tradition of the action movie promises to provide a last-minute *BANG* to cap off what has been, for lack of a better word, a very DULL summer at the movies. Sure, it started strong with Iron Man 2, and audiences were privileged to enjoy the latest Chris Nolan mind-bender in ‘Inception,’ but those films were more like brief oases in a barren desert filled with… well, nothing anybody really wanted to see.

It is with this background in mind that audiences will more than likely flock to ‘The Expendables’ this weekend. And so, to mark this glorious occasion, it’s time to reflect once again on some of the movie badasses you might have missed in the last few years.

In my original post, we discussed a number of notable kickers of arse, whose stomping grounds range from the streets of Hong Kong to the dystopic, totalitarian future of the Twilight Zone. For your viewing pleasure, here is a link to the original selections in the category of “The (Other) Movie Badasses.”

And now, here are just a few more contenders who you won’t be seeing this Friday, but whose exploits you’ll want to catch up on at the first opportunity:

1. Hit Girl (‘Kick-Ass’)

“I never play.”

She can't see through walls, but she can kick your ass.

When Detective Damon Macready was framed as a drug dealer by cocaine kingpin Frank D’Amico, it wasn’t just his career that he lost. Unable to cope with life without him, his wife overdosed on sleeping pills shortly before going into labor, passing away just as their daughter, Mindy, entered a world wholly unprepared for her arrival.

Trained by her father following his release from prison, Mindy soon became proficient in the martial arts, as well as an accomplished weapons expert. Her birthday present at age eleven: A pair of razor-sharp butterfly knives, which she uses to great effect.

Donning a purple wig and a disguise equipped for mortal combat, Mindy became Hit Girl, a pint-sized weapon of mass destruction with one goal in mind: Wipe Frank D'Amico and his drug trade off the face of the Earth, by any means necessary. By the time she's finished, her foes will be begging for mercy... and shortly thereafter, more likely than not, they'll be dead. This movie received an R-rating for a good reason (actually, lots of good reasons), so for goodness' sake, VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

2. Eli (‘The Book of Eli’)

“We walk by faith, not by sight.”

It’s difficult to address this particular badass without giving away far too much of the plot, but suffice it to say that, when the dust clears after the imminent nuclear holocaust, Eli is civilization’s last hope. Charged with the sacred duty to protect a mysterious book, and guided by a power beyond the scope of his comprehension, Eli marches across the lifeless desert that was once the United States in order to deposit the seed of a world now lost. (Cryptic, ain’t it?)

Wielding his trusty machete, along with a few working artifacts from the days of the Second Amendment, Eli will let nothing stand in his path, even the vicious warlord Carnegie, played by the ever-terrific Gary Oldman.

Eli's capacity for survival ought not come as a surprise. Honestly, could anyone walk through the wilderness for thirty years straight and NOT end up a badass?

3. Walt Kowalski (‘Gran Torino’)

“Get off my lawn.”

War is hell- but he probably liked the heat.

Having spent his youth overseas in the service of his country, Walt Kowalski has lived what ought to have been the ideal life. He survived the war, found a stable job, married the woman he loved, and had sons who grew up to be successful.

But all is not well in Eastwoodville. Living in a run-down Detroit neighborhood, Walt has just lost his elderly bride. His sons are badgering him to check into a nursing home. His grandkids are a bunch of spoiled brats. And to top it all off, he isn’t all too happy about the Hmong immigrants who just moved in next door.

One night, Walt overhears a ruckus in his garage. Grabbing his rifle and bursting through the door with his sights trained, he meets Thao, a young man being recruited by the local gang. His initiation: Steal Walt’s Gran Torino. Logically, the first thing Walt feels for the would-be thief is animosity. Seeking to restore the family’s honor, Thao’s mother brings him back to work for Walt, who reluctantly accepts this gesture.

At first the situation is awkward for them both, and Walt is none too eager to offer forgiveness. But try as he might to reject the boy, and despite his deep-set racist attitudes, Walt may ultimately have one thing to teach Thao that his own sons never quite learned: What it means to be a man.

Most badass man on the planet? You decide.