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Fun Stuff => ENJOY => Topic started by: Paper Beats Rock on 11 Dec 2005, 16:27

Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: Paper Beats Rock on 11 Dec 2005, 16:27
So what did you guys think were the best TV shows, books and films of the year?

I haven't seen many new films but I have read a few new books, my favourites were-

Amy Hempel - Dog Of The Marrage
Craig Clevenger - Dermaphoria
Bret Easton Ellis - Lunar Park
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: Trampo on 11 Dec 2005, 17:10
My favorite film this year has to be 'Crash' I thought it was immense.
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: Praeserpium Machinarum on 12 Dec 2005, 08:59
The best movie I've seen was Der Untergang, finally a warmovie that is not american! As well as the best WW2 movie I have ever seen.
The best book was by a deceased danish author called Ebbe Kløvedal Reich The Heavens and the Earth - A Hypatinic Travel Adventure. Granted it's pretty much the only thing I have read, I have a tendency of stopping half-way, did it with The Da Vinci Code ;)
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: Mnementh on 12 Dec 2005, 11:09
Best book I've read this year is probably Deliever Me From Nowhere by Tennesee Jones.  It's a rather interesting book, he took Springsteen's Nebraska album and wrote chapters about each song, they were backstories or the viewpoints of other characters in other songs.  For instance, from the viewpoint of the girl in the title track.

Moviewise I'm not sure.  I still have to see Syriana and Good Night and Good Luck.  Gunner Palace was excellent, though depressing.  I need to think more about what I've seen.

The season two season finale of Battlestar Galactica is probably one of the best episodes of a television show produced.  It was raw, visereal, and violent.  It showed a dark ugly side of human nature in a way that seemed very real.  You can get it on iTunes now if you want to see it.  Word of warning, it shows an attempted rape and a hot-blooded murder in a pretty graphic fashion, we're not talking cartoony action violence here.
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: nescience on 12 Dec 2005, 11:54
My favorite book of the year was Graceland by Chris Abani.  It's about a young Elvis impersonator in Nigeria who struggles to co-exist with his alcoholic father, distant stepmother, and dishonest friends in the increasingly dangerous ghettos.  Brilliant!!

Movies?  Will get back to you after I see Capote, Syriana and Goodnight and Good Luck.  I did kinda like Shopgirl and Funny Ha Ha.

Finally, TV was ruled by Arrested Development.
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: KharBevNor on 12 Dec 2005, 12:10
Quote from: Praeserpium Machinarum
The best movie I've seen was Der Untergang, finally a warmovie that is not american! As well as the best WW2 movie I have ever seen.


'Downfall' in English, right? Got to agree that it was absolutely awesome. Absolutely reversed the trend for ott hollywoodised action in war movies, which made everything so much more visceral and shocking. Wonderful film-making, and Bruno Ganz as Hitler was bloody fantastic.

Apart from that, hmn. I just finished the new Terry Pratchett (Thud!) and have a feeling that Going Postal was also released this year. Both are good, but I think neither is one of the 'classic' Discworld novels. Pratchett's slipping into a trap of becoming a bit too formulaic, and I find there's less LOL moments. He needs to get his ass out of Ankh Morpork to be frank, although he's in a spot of bother there, having written both Rincewind and the Witches into side-plots (in the Science of Discworld series and the Wee Free Men/Hat Full of Sky etc. childrens books). I also kinda wish that he would stop re-stating references/jokes in starred points. Though, fair enough, it is actually rather necessary for readers who haven't read every single novel*. Just that I have. Anyway, I want another book starring Death/Susan** or the wizards. To hell with cameos!

Apart from that, er.

Er.

PASS.

*A lot of in Thud! wouldn't make sense if you didn't know that Nobby Nobbs has to carry a certificate saying he's human, that dwarf bread is a weapon or that Carrot was raised by Dwarfs, for example.

**Susan's one of my favourite characters, so I hope, even though she was probably only a one-off.
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: Paper Beats Rock on 12 Dec 2005, 13:12
I think Going Postal was out last year (only including hardback) I would probably add Thud because I love his books.

As someone said TV was ruled by Arrested Development.  Didn't the new family guy and american dad come out this year though?  They were pretty good.  The finale of Six Feet Under and West Wing also deserve a mention.
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: Bunnyman on 16 Dec 2005, 00:52
I've been reading lots of 80's Cyberpunk...I don't think I've read a recently-penned book since, oh, Harry Potter 4.

As for movies...I really got a kick out of History of Violence.  Cronenberg, you crazy fucker, I love you.  I can't remember seeing any other movies (except Harry Potter 4, god-damn-it), which is really bugging me.

TV-wise, I really enjoyed BSG.  Lots of first season rough edges were filed down, and everything was all-in-all just more rounded-out and fuller.  And I'm not just talking about Kara Thrace.  Ba-dum-ching.  But seriously, folks...
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: FaultyGluestick on 16 Dec 2005, 01:01
Quote from: Trampo
My favorite film this year has to be 'Crash' I thought it was immense.


Yeah, Crash is really deep.  I almost cried when the Persian guy pulled the trigger.
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: ayePod on 16 Dec 2005, 02:13
Without a doubt my favourite movie of the year was Kiss Kiss,Bang Bang. A true movie lovers movie.
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: Inlander on 16 Dec 2005, 04:54
Fuck yes!  Me and a friend saw that last week, and walked out with our jaws on the floor, saying (among other things) "I can't believe Val Kilmer was so good."  Speaking of which: entertaining interview with Kilmer from the Guardian a couple of weeks ago (http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,6737,1639630,00.html).

I'll put up a more complete list of my favourite films of the year later, when I'm less tired and more able to rationalise.
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: McTaggart on 16 Dec 2005, 06:41
I really have to read and watch more. I can tell that if you give me half a chance I'll slip into utter film nerdery but I don't get nearly enough chances to see what I'd like.

I think next year I'll have a better idea of what happened because I'm actually looking out for things. (ie. New Sam Mendes film).

[edit]so IMDB tells me that Jarhead was this year. I swear the internet is lying to me.
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: Paper Beats Rock on 16 Dec 2005, 07:47
Quote from: McTaggart
I really have to read and watch more. I can tell that if you give me half a chance I'll slip into utter film nerdery but I don't get nearly enough chances to see what I'd like.

I think next year I'll have a better idea of what happened because I'm actually looking out for things. (ie. New Sam Mendes film).

[edit]so IMDB tells me that Jarhead was this year. I swear the internet is lying to me.


Yeah I made a thread with the link to the apple trailers site that has loads of films coming out next year on it but no one has posted in it as far as I know :(  (thread's called 2006)

I'm particularly looking forward to the new Darren Aronofski film.
Title: Re: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: Skibas_clavicle on 16 Dec 2005, 16:08
Quote from: Paper Beats Rock
Amy Hempel - Dog Of The arrage
Craig Clevenger - Dermaphoria
Bret Easton Ellis - Lunar Park

Big yes.

Everything is Illuminated was really good, I also wanted to see Shopgirl and Crash but never got the chance to :(
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: Trampo on 16 Dec 2005, 18:44
Quote from: FaultyGluestick
Quote from: Trampo
My favorite film this year has to be 'Crash' I thought it was immense.


Yeah, Crash is really deep.  I almost cried when the Persian guy pulled the trigger.


There are so many bits in that film which totally silenced me, when the cop shoots the black guy and all he has in his hand is the charm, brilliant, and obviously when Matt Dilon rescues the woman from the car. Such a good film.
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: surefunk on 16 Dec 2005, 19:16
my favorite books of the year were indecision by benjamin kunkel and zadie smith's on beauty.  
movies... i really loved me and you and everyone we know.  i'm sure there were more, but that's the one i'm remembering right now.
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: Tinjessla on 18 Dec 2005, 03:54
I think Kung Fu Hustle tops my 'Funniest film of 2005' list. Batman Begins and Dear Wendy were pretty good too.

Hmmm..i'll have to come back to this thread as i know there's more films than that which have impressed me this year.

Quote from: Inlander and ayePod
Good Reviews of Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang


I really want to see this and your two mini reviews have now confirmed it so!
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: Merkava on 21 Dec 2005, 15:40
Quote from: FaultyGluestick
Quote from: Trampo
My favorite film this year has to be 'Crash' I thought it was immense.


Yeah, Crash is really deep.  I almost cried when the Persian guy pulled the trigger.


That movie, especially that scene, was filmed beautifully. Great film.
Title: 2005 - Best of the Rest
Post by: ElRodente on 22 Dec 2005, 05:30
Quote from: Tinjessla
I think Kung Fu Hustle tops my 'Funniest film of 2005' list.


YES! this!