The experts’ 3 Popular movies of 2009

Here are the 3 best movies of 2009 that got our adrenaline pumping and the dynamite exploding. We love good movies and have seen hundreds in our time.

  • The Messenger. You know that gut-wrenching moment in any war-related film where a mother or father or wife opens the door to find two military men on the doorstep, and their presence alone signifies that inconceivable tragedy? Oren Moverman’s powerful debut is full of them — making this drama starring Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson (in career-best performances) one of the year’s hardest films to watch. But download The Messenger movie also one of the most rewarding, an insightful character study that’ll leave you moved.
  • The Princess and the Frog. While much of the pre-release hype surrounded the significance of Disney’s first African-American princess (a long-overdue accomplishment not to be dismissed), it proved only one reason to celebrate this triumph. In a year ruled by 3D, stop-motion animation, motion-capture technology, etc, Disney went back to its roots and crafted a charming, toe-tapping and timeless tale in that good ol’ classic hand-drawn style the movie the The Princess and the Frog.
  • Star Trek. After so much speculation, it didn’t seem as though J.J. Abrams’ reinvention of download Star Trek could possibly deliver. But deliver it did, with a terrific ensemble cast (including a snarky new Kirk in Chris Pine), rousing action sequences, and a storyline that sort of almost made sense. It was everything a summer movie should be, and kudos to Abrams for being bold enough to reboot the franchise — may it live long and prosper.