2007: A YEAR IN MOVIES

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As 2007 comes to an end, let us reflect on what was good, what was bad, what made money and what the future is about to bring.

CLICK HERE to read The-Usher's top 20 movies of 2007
CLICK HERE to discover the top 5 films of 2007
CLICK HERE to find out what were the worst movies of 2007
CLICK HERE to view the top 5 grossing movies of 2007 in the US and UK
CLICK HERE for a preview of 2008

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2007 was a strange year for movies. Usually there are some films that come along and take you completely by surprise but this year is was the big budget, box office smashes that really made this year in movies so enjoyable. Here are the 20 films that really made 2007 a great time to spend in the cinema...

Top Twenty Movies of 2007 (In Alphabetical Order)

Bee Movie
Jerry Seinfeld becomes animated as Barry B. Benson, a bee on a mission to sue the human race for stealing all of the honey. An excellent mix of animation and trademark Seinfeld observational humour, this is how animated movies should be made, making them appeal to the whole family.

Blood Diamond
Edward Zwick's story of conflict diamond smuggling in Sierra Leone is a powerful as it is action packed. Despite Leonardo DiCaprio's dodgy South African accent this is an action movie with a message and one that will get you thinking.

The Bourne Ultimatum
The third and possibly final movie in the Bourne franchise takes the series up a notch and brings us one of the best action spy movies ever made. With car chases that will astound you, fight sequences that mesmerise but it also has a story that is enthralling from the off. This is superb and intelligent information.

Die Hard 4.0
80s characters are starting to make a comeback and no one is bigger than Bruce Willis' John McClane and the Die Hard franchise. Now after 17 years away from the box office, the very analogue McClane finds himself digital world where the US can be brought to its knees computers but can his no nonsense, brutal approach work against the latest technology. Old school action for a modern audience.

The Fountain
Darren Aronofsky's journey to explain the meaning of life is one of the most memorable films of the year. Three stories combine to explain the power of love and the perils of eternal life to create a movie that will cause debate and discussion for everyone who watches it. Visually stunning and a film that will get you thinking for a long time after you watch it.

Hairspray
Remakes have never been a favourite of any film reviewer, especially when the original was beloved classic but the update of 'Hairspray' is a joy of a musical. With outstanding performances from an all-star cast and a scene stealing role for Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad, this is a fun musical with great song and dance moments and even a message that will get you thinking. Great musical entertainment.

Hot Fuzz
The team of Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and director Edgar Wright reunite for their take on the cop genre. Picture all of the excesses of action movies like 'Bad Boys', 'Point Break' or any big Jerry Bruckheimer style of movie and then transport this to a small West Country village and you have a recipe for action and laughter that is just as good as 'Shaun of the Dead'

I Am Legend
While this may have been adapted twice already, Richard Matheson's story of the last man on Earth is one of extremely loneliness and survival because the he is not alone. Will Smith is superb as soldier and scientist Robert Neville, having the act for most of the movie alone, with only his dog Sam for companionship. With some fantastic set sequences and a story that is touching and heroic, this is a horror action flick that you keep you on the edge of your seat and fill you with emotion.

Knocked Up
After the amazing success of 'The 40 Year-Old Virgin', writer/director Judd Apatow brings us a comedy about impending parenthood that is as touching as it is hilarious. With great performances from Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl as the two soon to be parents and an excellent ensemble, this is the funniest film of 2007 and one that is destined to be a firm favourite for many years to come.

The Last King of Scotland
An Oscar winning performance from Forest Whittaker as despot Idi Amin and a career making role for up and coming star James McAvoy, this powerhouse of a movie shows what happened in Uganda under his rule. British director Kevin Macdonald moves from documentaries with ease and becomes a shining light for the British film industry.

Planet Terror
While the 'Grindhouse' experiment by directors Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino may have failed at the US box office, the pair still produced two really fun movies. 'Death Proof' didn't capture the essence of the Grindhouse B-movie feel but Robert Rodriguez's 'Planet Terror' is a complete blast and one that is as funny as it is blood filled. A cult classic in the making.

Ratatouille
When Pixar releases a movie it is one of the highlights of the year and writer/director Brad Bird's 'Ratatouille' is definitely one of the best movies of 2007. As with all Pixar movies, the emphasis is on story and character and the tale of Remy, a rat who just wants to cook is a classic piece of family entertainment and another piece of joy brought to us by the best animation house in the business.

Stardust
British director Matthew Vaughn takes us on a fantasy romp that is like watching a good, old-fashioned pantomime. With stand out performances from an excellent ensemble and scene stealing roles for Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro, this is destined to become a firm favourite and a cult classic.

Superbad
When it comes to naming the best teen comedy of the 00s, 'Superbad' will be at the top of most fans and critics lists. With standout performances from Jonah Hill, Michael Cera and Christopher Mintz-Plasse and a script that is touching and hilarious, everyone will be wishing they were McLovin'.

Surf's Up
What happens when you cross animation and documentaries, you get a sports movie about surfing penguins. This extremely original movie copies the best from all those extreme sports documentaries we have watched over the years and added in penguins as the sports stars, you have a classic piece of animation and a fun sports movie to boot.

This is England
Writer/director Shane Meadows is quickly becoming one of Britain's best filmmakers. The semi-autobiographical story of Shaun, growing up in the 80s struggling to fit in until he meets a group of skinheads is one of the great character pieces of 2007.

300
Frank Miller's graphic novel about the Spartan battle against the Persian army at Thermopylae is a showpiece for comic book adaptations and historical epics. With jaw dropping battle sequences and a scene commanding role for Gerard Butler, this is a boy's own action adventure that is destined to become a classic.

30 Days of Night
Another graphic novel adaptation and one that reinvigorates the Vampire mythos, '30 Days of Night' is a story of survival against impossible odds. Set in an Alaskan town that is plunged into darkness for thirty days every year, Vampires descend and cause havoc, killing and feeding on everyone they encounter. The survivors have to live out the month before the sun returns making this a movie that will have you on the edge of your seats throughout and one that is a classic of the genre.

Transformers
The current level of computer generated visual effects has allowed filmmakers to create almost anything and seeing this director Michael Bay and producer Steven Spielberg have brought one of the most beloved toys and cartoon series of the 80s to the screen with amazing results. Seeing Optimus Prime, Megatron and the rest of the Transformers is one of the most awe-inspiring moments of 2007 and the film is action packed and extremely fun to boot.

28 Weeks Later
Sequels are almost always never as good as the original but '28 Weeks Later' is more of a continuation of the story that surpasses and builds upon what came before. Reinventing the zombie movie for the new millennium and continuing the Rage virus story, this is a great horror sequel and one that should make a great franchise.

Overall Top Five Movies for 2007

5. Transformers
4. Knocked Up
3. 30 Days of Night
2. Ratatouille
1. The Bourne Ultimatum

Disappointments and complete Turkeys of the Year

2007 was a year filled with some completely awful movies as well and there were some real stinkers this year.

Arthur and the Invisibles
Even excellent animation can't disguise the fact that Luc Besson's story is confusing and uninteresting making this a completely average piece so called family entertainment.

Bratz: The Movie
Turning toys into movies can work, just look at the success of 'Transformers' but the 'Bratz' movie is the complete opposite. A terrible high school movie and one that even little girls will hate.

Evan Almighty
'Bruce Almighty' was bad enough but the Noah based sequel is even worst. Even Steve Carell can't stop this from drowning.

1408
Stephen King movies tend to be either brilliant or awful and unfortunately '1408' is just plain awful. It is King's supernatural stories that seem to be suffering and this movie is no different. Don't bother entering that room.

The Heartbreak Kid
The Farrelly Brothers haven't produced a good movie since 'There's Something About Mary' and they should stop making movies now.

Lions for Lambs
Robert Redford, Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep try to make a political statement about the war on terror but no one is really listening.

Meet the Robinsons
The good news for Disney is that Pixar creative genius John Lasseter has taken over as the head of the animation so we should never see something is average again.

The Number 23
Jim Carey is usually good when he tries something different but this movie makes you wish the film was only twenty three minutes long.

The Reaping
Horror movies are all the rage again in Hollywood and they are attracting some big name talent but even Oscar winning Hilary Swank can't save this monstrosity.

Wild Hogs
Midlife crisis movies can make great comedy but seeing Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy in leather and on motorbikes is a little too much for anyone to take.

The Worst Movie of 2007

Epic Movie
Please, please, please can Hollywood stop making spoof movies! This is one, if not the worst of a very bad bunch.

Top Five Grossing films of 2007 (US and UK)

US
1. Spider-Man 3 $336,530,303
2. Shrek the Third $321,012,359
3. Transformers $319,071,806
4. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End $309,420,425
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix $292,004,738