Victor Salva, USA, 1989, 81 min.

This is a standard low-budget horror film about a team of murderous clowns. It’s Victor Salva’s first feature film and shortly after it was made he was convicted for sexual relations with it’s young male star.

Salva obviously films the trio of young male brothers through a unique lens. We see them in underwear, naked and bathing etc. It’s a bit odd and creepy to say the least. The film also has a teenage Sam Rockwell in his first film role.  It’s a bad film that I can only recommend as a cultural oddity.

This film wins the award “Longest Shoe-laces” for Casey’s foot-long high-top laces that always seem to come untied when a clown is right behind him.

James Mangold, USA, 2010, 110 min.

Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz have inventive banter, run around, get chased, and dodge bullets in the suprisingly fun first hour.

After that, the script turns to serious, fills up with cliche’s and CGI, and ends with a whimper that the first half of the film did not deserve. The whole thing smacks of studio intervention. I would love to read the first draft.

This film wins the award “Coolest Safe-house” for Tom Cruise’s private island paradise.

Lee Unkrich, USA, 2010, 103 min.

Most of this film is a rousing animated adventure. Nothing new, but the writing and directing that went into it is wonderful to watch. The voice-acting is tops as well.

The animation quality is almost too good, replacing the magic of the first two films with reality. But the reality comes in handy at the end, where the film really shines in completing the trilogy on a heartfelt poetic note that was very satisfying and very emotional.

This film wins the award “Scariest Toy” for the crazy red-eyed monkey. *shudder*

John Lasseter, USA, 1995, 80 min.

The first CGI feature is also one of the best. The animation heralds a new style of film-making. One where characters and objects occupy a physical 3D space, with full depth of field.

The groundbreaking work that went into this film not only produced technical quality, but story-telling quality as well. The script is as fun, smart and colorful as the animation, and the voice-acting is top notch.

This film wins the award “Best Use of Don Rickles Voice” for casting him as Mr. Potato Head.

Harald Zwart, USA, 2010, 140 min.

The story is nothing new. This time it’s Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan in China, with some great location shooting, but the beats remain the same.

It’s a studio film all the way. Cliche, predictable, and string-pulling. Fortunately, it plays the scenes well and the leads are all personable and engaging. The scene where Jaden Smith starts to use Jackie Chan’s jacket-fu is particularly well-done. Overall it is nothing special, but I found it hard to dislike.

This film wins the award “Widest Split” for Jaden Smith getting his legs fully horizontal while balancing on handrails.