100 Movies in 100 Days: COMPLETE

2,000 movies in 10 years. I still remember that warm March day in 2001 when I decided to start keeping track of the movies I watched. I had no clue how that one idea would shape such a significant portion of my life. I still remember being excited when my official count hit "10," "50," and eventually, "100." And now, exactly 10 years later, I hit 2,000.

As I sit on this milestone, I want to briefly look back before looking ahead. Completing 100 movies in 100 days was not easy. Here are a few thoughts about the whole thing:

Looking Back

1. This was significantly harder than expected. When I thought about doing this and writing about it in a blog, I imagined having the time to craft every entry perfectly to create discussion about movies. This quickly got put on the back burner. There were days when it was all I could do to write something fast, and start the next movie. I didn't have the time (or the energy) to write as intentionally as I'd hoped.
2. I got so many great recommendations from people, but I only managed to watch a few of those. I'll definitely see all the movies recommended to me, but sadly, they weren't all able to be part of the 100 in 100.
3. I've been humbled by the response to this. This blog had well over 1,000 page views from 10 countries from around the world (someone even viewed the blog on their iPad, which I think is extremely cool) I've had comments on the blog, comments on facebook, and messages sent in all forms about the various movies I've watched. I want to thank everyone who read or commented or even thought about movies differently because of this. You made this whole thing enjoyable for me.

Looking Ahead

1. 2,000 movies is really just the beginning. I'm stunned at how many great movies I still haven't seen (it's embarrassing). There's no way I can keep this pace up- it'll be well after 2016 before I hit 3,000, but I need to be more intentional about the types of films I see.
2. Here's some of the goals I have for the next thousand movies:
• See every single film to have ever won an Academy Award
• Make this list an accurate count of not only the last 10 years, but of every film I've seen in my life (I have to go back to pre-2001 and rewatch a lot of those movies I've seen, but aren't in the count)
• See every film on all those AFI Top 100 Lists
• Ensure I've seen at least 100 films from every decade (for example, I'm not even close to 100 movies from the 1930s)

Well, I'm not going to belabor this any more. 100 movies down, and I'm officially done. Interestingly, I don't think I'm going to take days or weeks off from watching movies. I'm just going to watch them only when I actually feel like it. In fact, after working 55+ hours this week, I actually think a movie sounds good right about now...

Day 100- Movie 100. Inception (2010)

Before I even start talking about this movie, I have a few things to say first- 1. Somehow, I managed to do it. I successfully watched 100 movies in 100 days. If I had to describe my emotions at this moment, I can only describe it as "relief." 2. I'm going to write a longer entry tomorrow (it will be my last) to reflect a bit on this challenge, as well as the fact that I managed to watch 2,000 different movies in exactly 10 years. So, I'm saving some of the good stuff for tomorrow.

On another note, I was driving back home today (about a 1.5 hour drive), and the whole time, I kept thinking to myself- If I get into a car accident and have to go to the hospital, I'm going to be so pissed I didn't get to finish that last movie. Luckily, I made it home safe, and I was able to conclude this long endeavor.

I thought quite a bit about what movie should be my 100th (and 2,000th). I thought about going for a classic, or an unexpected one, but I ultimately chose Inception for a few reasons. Mainly, because this was my favorite movie of 2010 (I admit I've only seen about 65 films released in 2010, so there's always a chance something could top this). I thought this was an innovative, intelligent, thought-provoking, game-changing movie. I saw it in theaters, but I never got it into my "official" count.

The main reason I loved this movie was because Christopher Nolan managed to create an intelligent, original movie that managed to break out in a big way. So many "blockbusters" rely on the lowest common denominator- trying to appeal to the widest possible audience while not offending or frustrating anyone. That's a cowardly way to make a movie. Nolan took a concept that was extremely complex and created a movie with the belief that the audience was intelligent enough to follow along and not get lost. He didn't pander or simplify the film for the sake of "stupid" American audiences. I love that he did that. Movies can be entertaining while still challenging us, and Inception does a fantastic job of proving that point.

The movie blends that amazing initial premise with an incredible cast and some of the most impressive scenes I've seen in a long, long time. I'll never forget that long, slow-motion fall of the van into the river. The gravity-defying fight scenes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt are among my favorite scenes of all time. They were stunning. The ice fortress battle sequences were amazing in a very James Bond-ish way. And of course, the controversial, brilliant ending. This movie blew me away.

For those reasons, I decided to choose this as my 100th movie. Hollywood is a business that copies success. The copies are rarely even close to the original, but they try it anyway. I sincerely hope Inception inspires Hollywood to take more chances on challenging, complex, unconventional films. Playing it safe creates movies like Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son. Movies shouldn't be safe- they should push the boundaries of our thinking. Inception represents why I love going to the movies. I would give this film an 8.5/10.

While I'm going to write much more tomorrow, I do want to spend a few minutes today discussing this whole thing. It was significantly more difficult than I expected. I'm completely relieved this is over. It was fun (and stressful), but I'm looking forward to going back to watching movies ONLY when I feel like it. They say that too much of a good thing is a bad thing, and apparently, that is true for movies, too. Okay, I'm probably going to be a bit long-winded tomorrow, so I don't want to tire you out today. Check back here tomorrow for my FINAL post (and don't worry, after that, I'm done clogging up your facebook news feeds!)

Day 96- Movie 99. Love and Other Drugs (2010)

I was surprised at the depth to Love and Other Drugs. The trailers made this look like a fairly lightweight romantic comedy, when it's really much more of a romantic dramedy. Instead of just a love story, this film also has some powerful commentary on the nature of loving people with incurable diseases and the shadier side of the pharmaceutical industry. This is a romantic movie that was about more than just "will they or won't they?" I appreciated that.

The story follows a pharmaceutical rep (Jake Gyllenhaal) who falls for a strong, determined woman (Anne Hathaway) who challenges him and differs greatly from the other women he's been with. Okay, so that does sound like your typically cliche-filled romantic comedy. However, there's much more to this movie than the storyline. It actually depicts relationships in a very adult, complicated, realistic way. I appreciated the attempt of this film to portray relationships in all their complex glory. No one ever said being in an adult relationship was easy, and that comes across in this film.

I also enjoyed the look at pharmaceutical sales. That isn't the most open, honest business, and it was interesting to watch an insider's view of what it is like. I thought that added an interesting element to this movie. So many romantic movies feature the leads in throwaway careers that seem implausible. This movie put the characters into a real time period, surrounded by actual events. I thought that lent some credibility to the film.

The movie relies greatly on the chemistry between Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway. I've always liked Gyllenhaal, back to his Donnie Darko days. I really think he has the talent to become of the biggest movie stars in the world. I thought he gave a good, charismatic performance here. He works well with Hathaway. The two showed some decent chemistry and played off each other quite well. The supporting actors were good, as well, with strong performances from Hank Azaria, Oliver Platt, and Judy Greer.

I suppose I can understand why some people wouldn't like this movie. It does occasionally push the boundaries of realism a bit too far, and certain scenes do appear a bit forced. The sex scenes could be viewed as too much for some, and the ending is a bit trite. However, compared to many other similar films, I thought Love and Other Drugs worked surprisingly well. I enjoyed watching it, and I was able to get into the story and the characters. I'd give this film a 7.5/10.

So, this is my 99th movie. On a positive note, I hit 99 on day 96. That's not bad. Unfortunately, it would have been nice to finish this thing off today. As I've mentioned previously, I'm swamped the next four days. I could easily not have time for a movie, but I'm going to try to ensure that doesn't happen (can you imagine if I missed it by 1 movie?) We'll see what happens, but I'd like to finish this off sooner, rather than later. Stay tuned...

Day 96- Movie 98. Bottle Shock (2008)

I'm actually a big fan of Bottle Shock. It is an interesting little movie about how the California Wine industry challenged the Paris wine industry and in the process, changed the way people thought about good wine. It features a very good cast, strong performances, and is a very entertaining movie. It is a lighthearted, funny film, and I enjoyed it very much.

It was interesting to watch this film, knowing it is based on a true story- specifically, the now famous "Judgment of Paris" wine tasting competition. It's also an underdog tale- how small California wineries went up against the historically superior French wines. In addition, it's a story of some down-on-their-luck individuals and how they overcome the odds to succeed.

The cast really makes this movie. I liked Chris Pine in the lead role. I don't think he gave a fantastic performance, but it was a strong showing, and I genuinely liked him in the film. Alan Rickman and Dennis Farina are fantastic. I loved their scenes together. Bill Pullman was a brilliant addition to the cast. I've always liked Pullman, and I think he worked very, very well in the film. I also was glad to see Freddy Rodriguez (he's an underrated actor), Eliza Dushku, and Rachael Taylor. The entire cast works well together, and I had a very fun time watching them all interact.

Bottle Shock is interesting because of how it blends wine, love, drama, and humor together into this wonderful little package. This is a movie that is effortless to enjoy. Unlike many movies, you don't have to work to get inside it. It seems lightweight on the surface, although it has many layers underneath. I do wish the movie moved a bit quicker, and it could have used an even better performance by Pine, but it still does so much right that these flaws are minimized.

It was incredibly hard not to want to drink some wine after seeing this movie. In fact, that's exactly what I did. Upon finishing this film, I went to pick up a bottle (and consequently, some KFC- that scene with Alan Rickman made me want some fried chicken really bad) and I am drinking wine as I type this up. I've never really understood the sophisticated side of wine, but it's fascinating to watch that passion and expertise unfold on screen. There's truly something magical about the process of making great wine, and that comes across extremely well in this film. There's also some absolutely jaw-dropping cinematography of Napa Valley and the beautiful rolling hills of wine country.

Wine enthusiastics should like this movie, but anyone could enjoy the true story and the interesting characters presented in this film. I very much enjoyed this movie, and would give it a 7.5/10.

Well, I am only 2 movies away. That is a huge relief. I'd like to be finished today, but I'm not sure I have the energy to hit up two more movies. I may be able to get one more in, but it looks like I'll have to find time during this upcoming week for that last movie. I'm very relieved this is all coming to an end, and I'm sure people will appreciate when I stop clogging their news feeds with these posts. Four days left and two movies to go!

Day 95- Movie 97. Monsters (2010)

I am extremely impressed with Monsters and what the filmmakers were able to achieve with a far less than $1 million budget. I've read that there were only two crew members and many of the scenes were unscripted. This movie is definitely a very small, independent film, but it feels significantly bigger than that. It is a unique, unforgettable film. This is a monster movie that is mostly about the humans- the "monsters" are important, but certainly are secondary.

The story begins with an explanation that six years ago, a spacecraft returning to Earth with samples to prove alien life existed broke up in the atmosphere. Soon after, new life forms began to appear along the U.S.-Mexico border. The area is bordered off as an Infected Zone. The story follows a photographer (Scoot McNairy) an a tourist (Whitney Able) who are trying to make their way back to the United States. To do so, they have to get dangerously close to the infected area.

The movie focuses mostly on these two characters. In so many monster movies, character development takes a backseat to the special effects. This movie (perhaps due to its budget) focuses almost completely on these two characters, and the alien monsters are really in the background. This works because the characters are interesting, complex, and realistic. You never feel like these are the typical cardboard cutouts that appear in so many movies. Their story alone is interesting and engaging. In some ways, the movie unfolds almost like an adventure film or a travel movie. It's certainly difficult to characterize exactly what kind of movie this is.

Now, the movie isn't only about these two. There are a number of scenes with the alien creatures. The special effects are a bit weak, but considering the budget of this film, they are pretty astounding. I never felt like the effects detracted from the film at all. Sure, with a bigger budget, the creatures would have looked even more amazing, but they are still impressive as-is. I loved how the creatures were portrayed in this film. The scene at the gas station is one of the most powerful, moving, memorable scenes I've watched in a long time.

I enjoyed watching Monsters because it felt refreshingly unique. It is a new twist on a familiar genre. The movie is unlike anything else that's happening right now- it is a character-focused alien/monster movie. I suppose you could make some comparisons to District 9, but this film does enough to differentiate itself. In addition, the ending is pretty spectacular. It is a controversial, debate-inducing conclusion that leaves the film on a high note.

Monsters would have been better with a slightly bigger budget and a little tighter script. However, it's amazing what was achieved considering the limitations of the cast and crew. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. If you go into this film expecting your typical alien movie, you'll probably be disappointed. On the other hand, approaching this with an open mind will allow you to see the uniqueness of this film. I very much enjoyed it, and will give Monsters a surprisingly strong 7.5/10.

I don't want to spoil the ending, but if you've seen this movie, what did you think about the conclusion? You can send me a message if you'd like, because I'm interested in what you thought of it but don't want to give anything anyway.

Day 95- Movie 96. The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)

The Secret in Their Eyes is another movie recommended to me (the recommendations I've had have all been solid, solid movies) and it is a great film. It's a very well deserving 2009 Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film. The movie is an extremely well made crime drama whose romantic elements play an equal (or larger) role in the final product. This is a movie that doesn't necessarily do much brand new, but it executes beautifully. This is a well crafted and expertly made film.

The story is about a legal counselor (Ricardo Darin) who reflects back on the case that he could never get out of his mind- the rape and murder of a young woman. This is the central thread of the story, but there's so many others that are weaved together beautifully. Perhaps the most powerful is the story of his unrequited love for his superior (Soledad Villamil), who plays a key role in the investigation of the aforementioned crime. This movie expertly blends crime drama, romance, and thriller together in a powerful, memorable package.

What I really enjoyed about this movie is its layers of complexity. This is a movie I imagine could be watched again and again, and you'd pick up on different elements with every viewing. It is a movie full of symbolism and meaning. The story unfolds slowly, but has clear momentum as it builds towards its surprising conclusion. The film does occasionally move too slowly and does feature a few outlandish moments, but for the most part, this is a realistic, enjoyable movie that gives you a great deal to think about. I sometimes complain about movies being too lightweight- you don't have that problem here- The Secret in Their Eyes is a heavy, deep film.

This is a film that was made with great care and intelligence. It deals with thought-provoking, complex, and occasionally disturbing themes. It never panders to the audience as it tells a very film noir type story. It reminded me of the films that were made in the United States in the 40s, of which too few are made today. I really liked this movie a great deal. I will give The Secret in Their Eyes a great 8/10.

Well, I'm now +1 movies. I have 5 days to watch 4 movies, and today isn't over yet. I admit I could easily finish this day off without watching another movie,  but I'd love to go up two today. I'll see if I can muster up enough energy to knock off a third film today. As far as this one, I'll pass the recommendation on- see this movie- you won't be disappointed (as long as you don't hate subtitles)

Day 95- Movie 95. G.I. Jane (1997)

I really believe that G.I. Jane is an underrated movie. I'm not suggesting that it's a great movie, but it is a good one, and I feel like it gets a really bad rap. Demi Moore actually "won" a Razzie Award for Worst Actress, which I think it a bit ridiculous. This movie isn't perfect, but I thoroughly enjoyed it regardless. It is a solid, entertaining movie.

What I like about this movie is it's your classic underdog story. Demi Moore's character is given the opportunity to break the gender barrier in the Navy SEALS, but she has to go through hell to do that. Director Ridley Scott does a terrific job of portraying the intense, miserable training that causes 60% of recruits to drop out. The training is far beyond what most people believe themselves capable of enduring. I myself couldn't imagine the psychological and physical torment that must be overcome to survive the training.

So, we watch Moore as she faces sexism around ever corner, which only adds to the already nearly insurmountable odds against her. It's always fun watching a story about an individual willing to tough it out, no matter the challenges before them. The Navy SEALS training is brutal, and Scott does a terrific job of making this come to life. That aspect of the film is outstanding.

Moore's performance was really not all that bad. Sure, she doesn't have many terrific moments, but the performance is mostly believable. She gets a bad rap for this film. It's impressive how much she bulked up for the role, and even though she used stunt doubles for many of her scenes, she still put forth a great deal of effort, and I appreciate that. Viggo Mortensen is good as the Master Chief, and I liked Anne Bancroft as a U.S. Senator. The cast is really quite good.

I don't know, maybe I should have hated this movie like a lot of people seem to. I simply couldn't do it. It is an impressive story about a woman facing overwhelming odds, and to a certain degree, overcoming them. It offers a vivid portrayal of some of the most intense military training on the planet, and even throws in a real-combat scene as well. This isn't a perfect movie, but Scott keeps the film moving so that it rarely drags, even with a 2+ hours run time. I'd give this film a 7.5/10.

Well, I now have 5 movies left. I knew I was getting close, but it didn't really hit me until this moment. That's not very bad at all. I'll be able to do at least one (and hopefully two) more before the day, so I should actually get very close to the end goal.

Day 94- Movie 94. Faster (2010)

Before I make any criticisms about this film, I want to say that I'm so thankful that The Rock (do I have to call him Dwayne Johnson?) is back to making action films. This is where he belongs. I know no one wants to be typecast, but if I see Johnson in one more children's film, I'm going to scream. He needs to be in movies where he has a gun and is shooting people.

That's a fact. It's just not fun watching Johnson make a complete idiot out of himself in kid-friendly fare. I sincerely hope he's gotten that out of his system or fired his agent, because those movie suck. It's time for Johnson to return to action. I was interested to see the last time he was in a legitimate action movie. So, let's look at Johnson's previous films to see the last time-

• The Other Guys (2010)- totally doesn't count. If you've seen the movie, you know why. Plus, this is a comedy first
• Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010)- didn't know he was in this. Not an action movie
• Tooth Fairy (2010)- Not even going to mention it because it's awful
• Planet 51 (2009)- stupid animated film
• Race to Witch Mountain (2009)- kid's movie
• Get Smart (2008)- comedy first
• The Game Plan (2007)- sports comedy
• Gridiron Game (2006)- sports drama
• Southland Tales (2006)- not an action movie
• Doom (2005)- and here it is. 5 years, and the last action movie he made was absolutely terrible

So, as you can see, it's been far too long. I was very, very excited for The Rock to return to action movies. Unfortunately, the movie he chose was Faster. There's nothing especially horrible about this movie, except that it's a simple, generic movie that features nothing new or particularly exciting. It simply rehashes ideas from other films that were better. Sure, it does try to throw in a few curve balls, but these can't save the movie.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this film is that Johnson has so very few lines. The vast majority of the time, he stands around looking tough and angry. We wanted him back in action movies, but we also wanted to hear him actually utter some words now and then. He had too little to say, which I found boring and disappointing.

The supporting cast is good. We have Billy Bob Thornton and Carla Gugino as cops, Tom Berenger in a worthless 30 second appearance, Maggie Grace (Lost!) with a decent role, Mike Epps, Moon Bloodgood, Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter!), and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Lost!). Two actors from Lost = bonus points for the film.

Anyway, this film does have some decent action scenes, a few nice surprises, and several thrilling moments. However, these aren't enough to overcome a mostly recycled story, little character development, and overall, a general feeling of silliness. I wish I could have liked this movie, but it didn't do enough to win me over. Welcome back to action, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson- now try to focus on making an actual good movie. I'll give this a 6/10.

Well, friends, we're at the last weekend before this whole thing comes to a close. I have 6 days to watch 6 movies. I expect to get close (or finish!) this weekend, because I'm absolutely swamped Monday to Thursday next week. I wish I had the entire weekend free, but I should at least have a good shot of hitting my goal. Let's hope I can do it.

Day 93- Movie 93. Saw: The Final Chapter (2010)

I'm going to start this out with a rant- I hated this movie before I saw it, simply because the title is so stupid. Technically, this film, the seventh in the series is called Saw 3D. That's just about the dumbest title I've ever heard. I hate whomever came up with that. This should have been called Saw VI, because that's how every other movie was titled. Saw 3D makes no sense at all. It's completely stupid and pointless. Who cares if it's in 3D- no one watching at home is going to see that extra dimension. So, I'm just going to refer to this movie as Saw: The Final Chapter. I really don't understand why people can't get movie titles right. Here's another example- those morons who write the title Se7en. Have you seen this? The movie is Seven. If you write it like that, the film would be pronounced "SeSEVENen" God, people can be so freaking stupid, I almost can't stand it.

Okay, enough of that. This movie is the seventh film in the franchise, and I have to admit I stopped caring about these movies years ago. You have to have an encyclopedia to remember all the various storylines and connections between the different movies. I tried to remind myself who was who for the first four movies, but I eventually just gave up- it wasn't worth the added effort to me. There's too many story lines that all add up to very little. Every film is just too similar to the previous ones, with the only real difference being different ways to watch people die. Not that exciting.

This movie is supposedly the last (Please, for the love of God, let this be the last one) and tries to tie up all the loose ends. None of this was particularly exciting to me. It was hard for me to stay focused because I felt like I'd seen this all before. This movie plays out exactly as you'd expect- a lot of people die in various creative ways, some people live, and there's a twist near the end. The formula has been done before, and it's tired.

I didn't always dislike this franchsie. The first film was remarkably good, and the next few films were decent. However, the franchise soon ran out of steam, and yet, we continued to get movie after movie, year after year. It's time for this franchise to die. It all just seems so pointless and uninteresting. I didn't like this movie much at all. I would give this movie a 5.5/10.

I thought this film was very sloppy. It felt like the major themes of the previous movies were thrown out the window completely. It felt like they weren't really trying anymore. That might be appropriate, since I was barely paying attention. This movie wasn't good in the least.

Day 92- Movie 92. Restrepo (2010)

2010 was a very good year for documentaries. I really enjoyed Exit Through the Gift Shop, and Restrepo was a really, really good movie as well. And yet, neither of those films won the Academy Award for Best Documentary- that honor went to Inside Job. I'll have to check that movie out- I hope it's exceptionally good, because either of the previously two mentioned movies would have been deserving.

Restrepo follows the Second Platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, chronicling them for an entire year. It is pretty amazing the level of access the filmmakers were granted. We get to see behind the scenes of the war in Afghanistan (and especially the Korangal Valley), to catch a glimpse of what it is like fighting and trying to survive in what CNN called "the most dangerous place in the world." The film does a good job of portraying various aspects of military life- not only the frightening, thrilling aspect of combat, but also the monotony of boring, slow days and the bond of military brotherhood shared by these brave young men. It was fascinating to watch it all unfold.

I liked how the film treated Restrepo, both the place and the man. It served as a narrative thread which held the entire movie together. I was confused about why the movie was called this (even more so after the first 10 minutes), but I quickly realized the importance of the name. I really liked that aspect of the film.

I also loved how the filmmakers simply let the movie speak for itself. It didn't appear to have an ulterior motives or specific political point it was trying to make. This wasn't a film about messages as much as it was about understanding and respecting more what our armed services are doing overseas. This film reminded me how young many of the soldiers are, and yet how much bravery and loyalty to the United States they show by voluntarily putting themselves in harm's way. I am a fan of anything that brings more attention to the sacrifices our military men and women make, and it was one of my favorite aspects of this movie.

In addition, the movie does a terrific job of portraying why the war in Afghanistan is so difficult. From the fighting landscape to the remoteness of many locations, to the difficulty in dealing with the locals, I had a new appreciation for the wars we're waging in the Middle East. The scenes about the cow really drove that point home for me. There's no easy answers, no definitive solution to the problems facing our troops there.

So, in conclusion, Restrepo is a very well made, entertaining, interesting look behind the scenes of the war in Afghanistan. It doesn't have a political message, it's simply a fascinating look in one of the world's most deadliest places. I very much enjoyed this movie, and give it a strong 7.5/10. In fact, I'm a bit surprised this movie didn't pick up the Academy Award for Best Documentary- it is certainly deserving.

Okay- I'm still on pace. 8 days to go, 8 movies left to watch. I'm getting a bit antsy for this to conclude. I am actually surprised I'm this close- there were weeks where I thought I had no chance. It is exciting, but challenging being so close, yet still hours and hours of movie watching away.

Day 91- Movie 91. Despicable Me (2010)

2010 has to be known as one of the better years for animated films. With Toy Story 3 and How to Train Your Dragon alone, the year could be considered fantastic. I was interested to watch Despicable Me to see if it would further the belief that this was a great year of animated films. Unfortunately, I was horribly disappointed in this movie. I thought it was boring, shallow, and poorly written. I didn't like this movie at all. I'm shocked that it made so much money at the box office.

The story follows Gru, a supervillain, determined to steal the moon. His life is changed when he adopts three girls to use in one of his diabolical plots. I actually had a very hard time believing the story. Yes, almost all animated movies are completely unrealistic, but this movie just pushed those boundaries too far. Stealing pyramids and the moon seemed weird and uninteresting. The whole thing just seemed so stupid to me. I'll say this- I found Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs to be a more believable movie, and that film featured a spaghetti tornado and giant pancakes falling from the sky. This film was just so poorly written that it was hard to pretend anything here wasn't completely ridiculous.

I don't think I'm spoiling the movie if I mention that the main focus is about Gru and how his life is changed for the better by these three girls. The movie telegraphed this in all the commercials, and it's amazingly predictable. I understand and even support "bad" characters turning their lives around, but what was it in this film that led Gru to make that change? He hated the three little girls, who were very annoying to him. They go to an amusement park for a few hours, and suddenly he loves them. I was never convinced of his change of heart. Characters need to grow and develop over the course of the film, but Gru's transformation was completely and totally unbelievable to me (and don't try to convince me that the piggy bank scene did it, because that was even less believable).

I'll also say that I pretty much hated Gru's stupid minions. This might be partially because of the relentless ad campaign (I swear I saw previews for this movie for a good year before it actually came out), and it's partially because they were a cheap effort to make the movie seem "cute" and "funny." I just didn't buy it, as I thought that the minions were mostly pointless and stupid.

The whole film felt very weak and flat. There weren't very many emotionally powerful moments. This film especially pales when you compare it to Toy Story 3 and How to Train Your Dragon, two films that proved animated movies can tell original, unique stories while also hitting the audience on a deeply emotional level. Despicable Me simply does not compare on any level to those films. It's a movie composed of recycled themes and ideas from other movies, instead of creating new stories or ideas itself.

I can't believe I'm the only person who strongly disliked this movie, but maybe I am. I did a little research and I was surprised how many critics loved this film. There were a few dissenters, but it was almost universally praised. I honestly can't fathom how so many people liked this movie. I found this to be a boring, completely forgettable attempt to cash it on perceived "cuteness" instead of telling a truly compelling story. I bet 90% of the people who try to defend this movie would say- "But the little girl was so cute!" Cuteness doesn't make a great movie. That would be compelling characters, exciting stories, emotional highs and lows, etc. Despicable Me has far too few of those. I'm giving this movie a 5.5/10.

So, if you loved this movie, I'd be glad to hear why. I'm curious how you think it compares to Toy Story 3 and How to Train Your Dragon.