Ishmael Williams's 2001 Lists

10	Legally Blonde Oh, I was so going to avoid this one. Really. But you know, when you're out with friends and they want to go do something and you really want to be with them….well, strange things happen. Like you find a movie is better than you'd thought. Reese Witherspoon's charm really carries this one, and yet there was some intelligence in breaking the "dumb blonde" mold. In the end, I had fun. That's all that counted.
9	The Mummy Returns Sigh I liked it. really I did. It's flawed; it's mostly a remake of the first movie, with no real new ground broken; and it contains impossibilities. But it was fun. Rachel Weisz learns to kick butt between the original and this sequel, and the movie references the first one to what is for me an entertaining degree. Brendan Fraser recreates that "I'm doing Indiana Jones but not" feel really well. And Arnold Vosloo is appropriately menacing once again as the title character. While I hope there are no more ("The Scorpion King" notwithstanding), I will continue to be entertained by the first two.
8	Bandits Have I ever mentioned how much I love Bruce Willis? To date, there's only been one movie in which he starred that I hated. Too bad - it includes the comic genius of John Larroquette. However, that movie is NOT this movie, and THIS movie I like. Bruce is at his low-keyed best, and Billy Bob Thornton complements him nicely as the comic foil. Add to this mix Cate "Is there anything she can't do" Blanchette and you have a solid ensemble cast in what one friend calls "the modern Butch and the Kid". Really good entertainment and an interesting choice for the main characters in the end.
7	Spy Kids Okay, take Antonio Banderas at his coolest best, add Carla Gugino acting as the perfect wife, plus two kids doing dual roles so they can be both good AND bad, mix in one dash of a villain that reminded me of the more sinister parts of Willy Wonka, and you get this smash hit movie. Well done and acted with some cool visual effects, and realistic kids in extraordinary circumstances. The visual effects do break down here and there, and some of the plot is predictable, but it's still a really enjoyable time at a movie.
6	Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone I never read the book. Well, I read the first chapter, and in that chapter I created an image of what things looked like. I also bought into the imagery presented by the book's cover artist and the advertising machine of the movie studio. Visually, this movie did not fail to deliver on recreating faithfully that image. The entire opening scenes of the movie recreate the first chapter of the book to a T. From there, I went on to an enjoyable story of the first year at a school for wizards. There was magic and wonder and delights. Good acting and kids who knew how to be kids with adults who worked well with kids. Great film. It lost some luster for me about halfway through, and i was not able to maintain the open mouthed sense of wonder. Plus I thought the climax a bit weak. But all in all, a solid delivery.
5	The Dish In an effort to ensure I didn't fill my top 10 of 2001 list with trash, a friend recommended this little Australian film to me. Based on true facts, the tale tells of how the world almost didn't see the moon landing in 1969. It is solidly acted, and tells a story that's actually compelling to watch, even though you know the ending. Patrick Warburton (Kronk, The Emperor's New Groove) is great, along with a host of USA-unknown actors. I liken this film to the best parts of Contact and Apollo 13, and am glad for that friend's recommendation. And I'll never tell what movie got bumped because of this one.
4	Shrek Whee, what fun. Shrek is the modern day anti-fairy tale with a great message. Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz shine in their voice-over work. John Lithgow is perfect, as always, and Mike Meyers turns in excellent work. Add to this the references to other pop-culture images, and you create a film that's fun for both adults and children. If you haven't seen it, get the DVD like, now!
3	Monsters, Inc. It was quite a year for animated features, what with Shrek, Final Fantasy and this one. That Monsters, Inc. did with animation what Final Fantasy wished is without question. There is no question that it was more fun and engaging than Final Fantasy. It also had kick butt performances by John Goodman, Billy Crystal, James Coburn and Steve Buscemi. Steve Buscemi? Wasn't he in Final Fantasy? Yes. I'm so glad he did this one to redeem himself. But I digress. The story was good, and moved along at a nice pace to keep you interested. Therre was wit and banter and a chase scene and good plot development and everything you could want. Oh, and there was an emotional attachment - I cared MORE about these characters than the ones in Shrek, and really WANTED everything to come out okay for them. I found it to be a heartwarming film with family fare that is not too saccharin.
2	Fellowship of the Ring When in the 7th grade, I was introduced through Junior High School Literature class to The Hobbit. I loved it. I then found our it was a prequel to a trilogy called The Lord of the Rings = part 1 (and part 2, actually) being The Fellowship Of the Ring. This is a descriptive rich book with flights of fancy that inspire the imagination. When Hollywood started making books of classics, I cringed at the thought of a filed version of The Trilogy. Other attempts were made and each time I was filled with more dread at the next attempt. Until now. Visually perfect, with characterizations true to just about ever Rings fan's memory and imagination, this stands as a new modern day fairy tale. It is in a class with Star Wars, though I don't think it better. But it is as watchable as that film, and will stand up to repeated viewing. See it for the imagination and the joy of a beloved tale brought faithfully to the big screen.< /P >< /P >< /P >
1	Moulin Rouge! I make no secret of the fact that I adore this film. I've always loved the Hollywood musical, the spectacle of people bursting perfectly into song and dance, and Moulin Rouge! delivers this to my extreme delight. The surprise in the film is hearing two actors, Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, sing, and you don't expect this. And these voices are not dubbed - they really sing. Add to this imaginative use of pop tunes, a kick-butt tango, a good story and a film rich with color and movement and light and shadow and joy and love - above all love - and it's no wonder that it's one of my number one films for 2001.

Worst of 2001