Cryptic Clarity’s Top 5 of Everything of 2007
Actually “favorite 5s” would be a much more appropriate term; it’s not like I’m grading or anything. Besides, there are still heaps of movies and albums I haven’t got to see/listen to. Nevertheless, the following is a compilation of some of my favorite movies, music, books, music videos and various YouTube clips of 2007:
Top 5 Favorite Movies:
5. Michael Clayton
4. Superbad
3. No Country for Old Men
2. Away from Her
1.I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone
Honorable Mentions:
Ratatouille
Waitress
This is England
Yes of course I love Pan’s Labyrinth and The Lives of Others, but they came out in 2006…as for those who think Superbad is homophobic or misogynist, were you one of those who called Basic Instinct homophobic or Aliens misogynist too? Technically No Country for Old Men is arguably the best film of 2007. But I’m biased since Tsai Ming-Liang is one of my favorite film makers. As with Tsai’s films, you need to be patient before it hits you. Breathtaking cinematography!
Top 5 Favorite Albums:
5. Boxer - The National
4. In Rainbows - Radiohead
3. Strawberry Jam - Animal Collective
2. Neon Bible - Arcade Fire
1. Kala - M.I.A.
Honorable Mentions:
Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? - Of Montreal
Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
Untrue - Burial
It’s never easy to rank your favoritisms, but I adore M.I.A. for never shying away from politics, personal and global, and singing and dancing about it. No euphemisms, no beating around the bush, just straight telling like it is. Electronica never sounds this fierce, this good! I’m going to make a special mention of Real Life by Joan as Police Woman: it’s a beautiful album. Neon Bible can easily be my favorite in 2007, but reading a couple of interviews made me realize I might have construed more out of their songs than what they were actually saying?
Top 5 Favorite Songs:
5. Paper Plane - M.I.A.
4. Down is the New Up - Radiohead
3. Intervention - Arcade Fire
2. Squalor Victoria - The National
1. Fireworks - Animal Collective
Honorable Mentions:
Archangel - Burial
John Allyn Smith Sails - Okkervil River
Atlas - Battles
Fireworks is gorgeous…
Top 5 Favorite Books:
5. -
4. -
3 . God is not Great - Christopher Hitchens
2. American Born Chinese - Gene Luen Yang
1. The God Delusion - Richard Dawkins
It’s pretty sad that I didn’t read more than 5 books outside the academia this year…another one I did read was A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka which, although entertaining at places, comes across as rather mean-spirited in the portrayal of Valentina. The most enjoyable read for me is Notes on a Scandal [what was she thinking?] by Zoë Heller, but it came out in 2003. I ended up really despising the movie because it’s NOTHING like the book. Barbara’s observations actually made me burst out laughing SO HARD several times, and her evasive confession of her secret loneliness is very real it’s almost heartbreaking. Do read the book; the movie is a bore. As for the two courageous books that take on religion, I can’t recommend them enough. Hitchens is probably the better writer of the two, and much more caustic. He’s very well versed in those Holy Scriptures, which means his discussions sometimes involve more technicalities than I personally care for. Dawkins’ book is the better researched one and much more accessible. Despite the subject matter it’s a very humorous read too. Schools really need to start educating our young about the Celestial Tea Cup!
Top 5 Favorite Music Videos:
5. What’s a Girl to Do - Bat for Lashes
4.Atlas - Battles
3. Don’t You Evah - Spoon
2.Bird Flu - M.I.A.
1. Peacebone - Animal Collective
Top 5 Favorite Videos on Various Subjects:
5.Scientology’s Favorite Question for Critics
4. Perfect Me: Dedicated to Ann Coulter
3. Bill O’Reilly: Master of Distortion and Censorship
2. If it’s Wrong and Unconstitutional to Use Religion to Justify Slavery…
1. The Importance of Knowing your 10 Commandments
OK I’m going to cheat and sneak another one in: this is just too brilliant to pass up!
Do you have a list of your personal top 5s? Please feel free to post them in the forum!
Bonus Video: Bush - Pathological Liar or Idiot-in-Chief?
Popularity: 61%