Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Reminiscing: Favorite Movies of 2010

Welcome back to the retreat! I've put a few more logs on the fire, so it should be quite comfortable inside. Anyone want some hot chocolate? With marshmallows and whipped cream? Oh, and of course some chocolate sauce and chocolate chips! ;)

Today we're talking about our favorite movies from 2010. I'm going to cheat a little and mention my top 5 favorite movies that I saw for the first time this year. They're not necessarily movies that were released this year. Hope you don't mind! I'll go backwards through the list, starting with my 5th favorite.

Favorite Movies of 2010
  • #5: Northanger Abbey--The winter/spring of 2010 was my official foray into the world of PBS Masterpiece. I loved Northanger Abbey so much when I watched it on T.V. with one of my college friends that I ended up buying a DVD copy! While this had already aired on PBS Masterpiece before, I saw it for the first time this past year and fell in love with the humorous and charming Henry Tilney. You can read my review HERE.
  • #4: How to Train Your Dragon--Even though the first time I watched this was through Amazon.com Video on Demand, I was still blown away by this epic and very sweet story! I watched it again the other night (after getting a copy for Christmas) on the big screen T.V. in our home, and I was even more impressed with the animation and the music. Great movie!
  • #3: Toy Story 3--This might actually be my second favorite of the year, but wherever it fits it for sure has to be on this list! I have loved all of the Pixar movies thus far, and the Toy Story series is no exception. This latest installment has made me cry every time I have seen it (twice in theaters, and once at home so far). Very powerful! You can read my review HERE.
  • #2: Sherlock--What an intriguing new series! Over this past year I have fallen in love with PBS Masterpiece, and this new PBS Masterpiece Mystery version of the story of Sherlock Holmes thrilled me with it's great characters, wonderful humor, and freaky plots. I have season 1 on DVD, and I cannot wait for season 2 to come out next year!!! You can read my reviews of this series HERE.
  • #1: North & South--While I admit that this is not a 2010 release, I saw this movie/miniseries for the first time this past year, and it is absolutely breath-taking. Simply gorgeous! Thank you to everyone who recommended this movie to me--I am so, so glad I have seen it, and that I have it on DVD so I can watch it over and over again! You can read my review HERE.
What are your favorite movies you saw for the first time this past year? What are you looking forward to watching in 2011? (I know I'm looking forward to more PBS Masterpiece!)

(Note: The picture at the top of the post is of my grandparents' fireplace. Cozy!)

20 comments:

Renee Ann said...

I enjoy reading your movie reviews, Amber! . . . One of my new favorites is a series I borrowed from Netflix--Lark Rise to Candleford. It's set in Oxfordshire in 1895. The main character is a teenage girl who leaves her tiny hamlet to help her cousin run the post office in a bustling town. I love the clothes and the characters!

I also watched North & South for the first time earlier this year. In some circles, all you have to do is say or write Richard Armitage and that's enough to cause major conversation and swoon-age! LOL!

Unknown said...

Great list, Amber! North & South well deserves your #1 spot IMO...I do adore Richard Armitage! :)

Kav said...

I finally got to see North & South just this past weekend! Now I know what all the fuss was about. I LOVED it...so much detail in the characterization that really made the plot for more. Definitely something I would have liked to watch again for a more indepth look but alas, I had to return it to the library. But I'm so glad I had the chance to watch it.

Renee's recommendation - Lark Rise to Candleford sounds interesting...even the title is intriguingl I'll have to see if I can get a hold of a copy.

I haven't watched many movies this year. I tend to splurge on books instead so I limit myself to what I can get from my public library. I did watch Fireproof this year and thought it was very good. And I saw Saving Sarah Cain -- a movie with an Amish twist which I really enjoyed as well.

Casey said...

Oooh, I don't know if I have a favorite movie of 2010. I don't watch enough tv like I read books to remember. Ha! But I am taking sis to Tangled tonight!! That should be fun. :D

Renee (BlacknGoldGirlsBookSpot) said...

How did I know North and South would be number one? I saw TS3 on Christmas (rented it from Amazon) and I cried. Yes I cried, I'm such a baby but it was the best of the series IMO.

Casey I saw Tangled last week and it was sooo good. Hope you like it!

XOXO~ Renee

Julia M. Reffner said...

Great picks. I'm embarassed to say I have not seen any movies of this year EXCEPT Toy Story, too.

I have to admit I cried too at TS 3 and I am not a movie crier.

Still hoping to take my daughter to Tangled sometime this week.

Joy Tamsin David said...

I don't watch too many movies, but two I saw in theaters that I loved were Toy Story 3 and Eclipse. I cried like a baby for Toy Story 3, it just reminded me of my own boys growing up.

Happy New Year Amber!

Amber Holcomb said...

Renee Ann,

I'm so glad you liked reading the movie reviews! I hope they were helpful to you. :)

OK, I definitely have to see Lark Rise to Candleford! After your recommendations, I know this is a must-see. :) Sounds really good!

And Richard Armitage...*sigh* Definitely swoon-worthy! ;) So glad you got to see North & South!

~Amber

Amber Holcomb said...

Ruth,

Thank you! It wasn't really much of a contest as far as North & South was concerned. ;) I adore Richard Armitage in that movie, as well! :D

~Amber

Amber Holcomb said...

Kav,

YAY!!! I'm so happy you got to see North & South, and that you loved it! :D Wasn't it beautiful? I hope you get to see it again!

And I agree--Lark Rise to Candleford sounds good! :)

I've been kind of splurging a lot on books and movies, so I probably should cut back on both. Thankfully, I got a lot of wonderful things for Christmas, so it shouldn't be too hard. ;) Fireproof is a powerful movie, and I own Saving Sarah Cain, as well. :) I'm so glad that we have books and movies with positive messages to enjoy!

~Amber

Amber Holcomb said...

Casey,

Well, that's probably healthier. ;) I just LOVE movies AND books, so that's why I want to have lists of my favorites of both for 2010. :D

And yay! I'm glad you're going to get to see Tangled with your sister tonight! Have fun!!!

~Amber

Amber Holcomb said...

Renee,

Hahaha, you know me too well! ;) So glad you got to see Toy Story 3 on Christmas! I've cried every time I've seen it--I just can't help it! I don't think it helps being around the same age as Andy in that movie. ;)

And glad to hear you liked Tangled! Wasn't it cute? :)

~Amber

Amber Holcomb said...

Julia,

Thank you! And no worries. :) I'm glad you got to see Toy Story 3, though, and I'm glad that I'm not the only one who cried while watching it!

Hope you get to see Tangled! It's really fun. :)

~Amber

Amber Holcomb said...

Joy,

Wasn't Toy Story 3 so good? I cried so much, too, but I guess for the opposite reason--because I could identify with Andy leaving for college. And also because I just love that series so much, and it's sad to see it end!

Happy New Year to you, as well! :)

~Amber

Ariel Wilson said...

I got HTTYD for Christmas too! :D I'm SUPER excited to watch it :D It's the double DVD pack too, so it has the extra story with it :D Can you tell by all the smileys how excited I am??? :D

Amber Holcomb said...

Ariel,

Yay!!! LOVE that movie! :D I was excited when I got the movie for Christmas, too. ;) Hope you have a great time watching it!

~Amber

Bluerose said...

I so agree with you on HTTYD!! Loved it!! :) I've got to watch a few of the others, since I haven't seen them yet.
My little boy obviously agrees with you on TS3, because he's did almost nothing but play with Woody, Buzz, and Dr. Porkchop since he got them for Christmas. He's never brought toys to bed with him until now. :)

Amber Holcomb said...

Bluerose,

Your recommendation of the movie helped encourage me to give it a try--so glad I did! :D I hope you get a chance to see some of these other movies, especially North & South!!!

That's so cute about your son! I'm glad he enjoyed Toy Story 3. :)

~Amber

Casey said...

Oh we did! IT. WAS. A. BLAST! What a fun movie!! :D

Amber Holcomb said...

Casey,

That's great!!! :D I agree--it's definitely a fun movie! So glad you got to see it! :)

~Amber