The top films of 2010

"Inception" was cool, sleek and original

2010 has been quite the year for movies. From powerful storytelling in films like "The Social Network" and "Toy Story 3" to original and thought-provoking direction in films like "Buried" and "Inception", 2010 gave us quite a few memorable flicks. Below is my list for the top ten movies of 2010. As of writing, I unfortunately was unable to catch "True Grit", "Black Swan" and "the Fighter" -- all films which have generated favorable comments. If you saw them, please put your opinions on those films as well as your lists for your top ten of 2010!

all totals are based off of revenues generated up to Jan 2nd, 2011

1. Inception - $292,568,851

Strong acting, a complicated script, clear story-telling, majestic effects and completely original, Christopher Nolan's "Inception" is my favorite movie of the year. I like when a movie challenges the viewer to think and have their own opinion and perspective on what has happened long after the film ends and "Inception" definitely did that for me.

2. Shutter Island - $128,012,934

Leonardo Di Caprio earned starring roles in what I believe were the two best films of the year. While heavily overlooked, Martin Scorsece's "Shutter Island" boasted incredible cinematography and an ominous sense of atmosphere. Film-making at its best and while not as good as "the Departed", a definite gem to add to Scorsece's long list of film accomplishments.

3. Toy Story 3 - $415,004,880

A heavy contender for film of the year, Pixar's final installment of the 15-year classic was spectacular. Pixar always has a way of bringing out emotion from its audience and "Toy Story 3" definitely does that. A coming-of-age flick that was very deep and yet easily enjoyable by younger generations, "Toy Story 3" is a pinnacle of animation.

4. The Social Network - $93,226,000

A time-relevant piece, "The Social Network" looks into the early life of Mark Zuckerburg and the creation of FACEBOOK. Witty dialogue, coherent plot transitions and rich story-telling makes this cynical look at the growth of social media seem really interesting.

5. Buried - $1,044,143

A short film that saw very limited release, "Buried" featured Ryan Reynolds trapped in a box for the entire span of the movie. Never boring and suspense-driven from beginning to end, "Buried" is a feat in itself. Clearly original, the irony here is that much of the film revolves around thinking outside of the box.

6. How to Train Your Dragon - $217,581,231

Dreamworks' animation about a young Viking conflicted with his culture of killing dragons and his friendship with one is a truly heart-warming story. I was very surprised that the film was as good as it was. I also believe that the 3D element of the film was very well done and with a funny storyline, "How to Train Your Dragon" deserved a spot on my top 10 list.

7. Scott Pilgrim Versus the World - $31,524,275

Witty, clever and video-game cliche ridden, "Scott Pilgrim" was an enjoyable journey into the life of young musician Scott Pilgrim. His recent attraction to Ramona Flowers may cause him more trouble than she's worth as in order to win her hand, he must defeat her seven, evil ex-boyfriends. Crude, funny and creative, "Scott Pilgrim" earned its spot in the top 10.

8. The Town - $92,173,235

This story about a team of bank robbers in lower Boston was action-driven and featured strong performances from Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner. Unfortunately, competition was very stiff in 2010 and "The Town" lands at number 8.

9. Tangled - $167,821,926

The animated version of the classic fairly-tale Rapunzel, hit theaters in the latter part of 2010. A great soundtrack and strong voice-acting by Mandy Moore brought high praise for "Tangled" but, it fell way short of the mark set by "Toy Story 3".

10. Iron Man 2 - $312,128,345

The highly-anticipated sequel brought all the action and special effects that were expected. Unfortunately, a forgettable villain and weak plotlines prevented "Iron Man 2" from ranking higher on my list.

I wish I had the opportunity to catch "Black Swan", "True Grit" and "the Fighter" before I put up this list. I'm sure my tastes are very different from that of yours, so please, list your top 10 in the comments below and why you rated them the way you did. Or, feel free to debate where some of my films should have been! Let's hope 2011 brings us many more interesting films to review.

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