MOVIES THAT DIDN'T SUCK THIS YEAR ... KINDA >>>

I've had the bittersweet duty of reviewing movies for the Weekly Volcano since April. In that time, I've been forced to witness more than my share of cinematic atrocities. Who could forget Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore in 3D? I certainly can't. Much like young Alex in A Clockwork Orange, a strong physical reaction is summoned in my stomach every time I recall Paws and his steel jaws. *

Or how about A Nightmare on Elm Street, which looms so large in my memory as not only my first official film review, but perhaps the worst thing to ever happen to me, ever, ever, ever ...

These unfortunate occurrences should, in theory, be balanced out by some good film-going experiences. Yet, as I sit and try to think of what I reviewed this year and what could, potentially, occupy a space on a year-end best-of list, I'm coming up awfully short. I find myself reaching back to movies like The Karate Kid and-if you can believe it-Step Up 3D (which may end up being the most fun I've had at the movies this year).

Unquestionably, my favorite movie of the year has been The Social Network, with Scott Pilgrim vs. The World coming in a close second. I was impressed with Inception after I saw it, but it has faded from my memory in the months since (as I expected it might).

This can't be all there is, right? Certainly, I've missed certain movies that show at the Grand Cinema or Capitol Theater, but I should think that, even then, my eight months reviewing films would have produced something that stands out more than Step Up 3D.

With just a couple weeks left of reviewing films in 2010, The Fighter and True Grit are still to come. Anything to round out a year of mostly disappointments, if not catastrophic failures ...

I'm looking at you, Secretariat.

*I mean, goddammit, Jaws was called Jaws because he had steel jaws, so why does Paws have steel jaws and not steel paws?! Erg, I'm feeling sick...