Top ten films I saw in 2006.

I realize this is a little late. However, I feel that as I film enthusiast I owe to at least myself to make a top ten list from 2006. So, here are my ten favorite new films from 2006, in no particular order. You'll note that, although I'm sure there are a bunch of movies that made every other list, I didn't see them and therefore I won't be talking about them at all.

1. Slither: At once a parody of present horror flicks, an homage to past monumental horror flicks, and an original genre entry all its own, this perfectly cast, perfectly delivered film surprised all those who saw it, which was, unfortunately, a dreadfully small group.

2. Casino Royale: If you read my review, you'd have seen that this Bond entry breathed fresh needed air into a series that was dangerously close to parodying itself. It was intense and action-packed. Thank Jeebus for Daniel Craig, who shocked the nay-sayers with his performance.

3. Mission: Impossible: III: I also reviewed this one earlier, and although the bulk of you all hate Tom Cruise for being a nut just like the rest of Hollywood, and he got kicked out of his production company, this film made the Mission: Impossible series a delicious trifecta.

4. Strangers With Candy: I can't believe how funny this movie was. It's one of those classic movies that I'll never get over watching, like Ghostbusters. Doesn't matter how many times I see it, every joke, every performance goes right into my own little lexicon of classics. Everyone in it is mind-blowingly funny.

5. The Protector: At last, one I haven't written about yet. For those unfamiliar, this is the second movie released theatrically in the states by everyone's favorite Muay Thai fighter, Tony Jaa. The nearly 10-minute single-shot scene of him climbing up a set of rotunda stairs, messing up everyone in his way is stunning.

6. Brick: Rian Johnson's genre-melding teen-noir crime drama was thought-provoking and shocking, as well as showing that former teen sitcom stars can be taken seriously. Simply brilliant.

7. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: Another 2006 DVD release, this one proves that Val Kilmer needs to return to comedies. The Hollywood schmaltz mixed with the dark-underbelly of Hollywood goings-on turned the "movie about Hollywood" (America's Sweethearts, i.e.) on its ear.

8. The Prestige: I just saw this one a few days ago at the cheap seats, so my head's still reeling. But I will say that Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan were meant for each other. The plot twists, the competitive nature between Bale and Hugh Jackman, Scarlet Johansson, and holy crap - is that David Bowie?! The final twist at the end mimics the infamous line about any trick ("Illusion, Michael."): "Well, once you know the trick, it's really quite obvious."

9. Scary Movie 4: I know what you're thinking, and shut up. It was funny, very funny the first time I saw it. It was very much a ZAZ (Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker) film, in he vein of "Police Squad" and "Airplane." And that nature is: do as many jokes as humanly possible, and see how many of them stick. Every ZAZ film needs a straight-shmoe who isn't in on the joke, and for that part Craig Bierko was very adequate. I laughed so hard during the car-door-locking scene. It was funny, and I don't care what you think.

10. Man with the Screaming Brain: This is my non-2006 entry, and it also changed my perception of things. It proved that shlocky, low-budget straight-to-TV movies can be fun, especially if Bruce Campbell can grace it. A pretty funny idea backed by a considerably strong physical performance by Bruce himself, this one is just plain fun to watch. Marvel as Bruce splits his actions as if two people were controlling his brain (because this is pretty much the bulk of the plot).

And that's it for me. Any comments or anything of that nature can be freely posted here. I'd love to hear back from any of you.