The 19 Best Movies You Didn’t See in 2007

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on December 24, 2007

Here’s a little Christmas Eve treat for everyone out there who isn’t stuck in church having to be the guy who pretends to sing along. As we begin our year in review (something we will be doing over the next 2 weeks leading up to the release of the 2007 FSR Honor Roll), it is important to look back at some of the films that most people missed along the way. We’re sad that you missed them, but there is still time! Put them in your Netflix queue, head out to your local indie cinema house or even track down your favorite film critic friend and borrow their screener.

To help you out, I have collaborated with Alex Billington over at FirstShowing.net to bring you a fairly comprehensive list — 19 films that you missed, but should definitely see from the year that was, 2007.

Take a look at my three entries to the list below:

Air Guitar Nation

Opened March 23rd, 2007

Directed by Alexandra Lipsitz

Air Guitar Nation chronicles the birth of the US Air Guitar Championships and the personal journeys of those talented contestants who are vying to become the first World Air Guitar Champion from the United States.

Why it’s Great: We’ve all had that moment - dancing around our house in our undies rocking out to some old school rock and roll. It is those moments of glory that spawned the worldwide sport of Air Guitar, the subject of Alexandra Lipsitz’ fast paced, energetic and deeply respectful documentary. Showing off the silliness and the seriousness of the sport, this documentary left audiences both in stitches and filled with great respect for these wannabe rockers.

The Host

Opened March 9th, 2007

Directed by Bong Joon-ho

A monster emerges from Seoul’s Han River and focuses its attention on attacking people.

Why it’s Great: Subtitled or not, The Host is one of the most gripping films of the entire year. Forget about Cloverfield, this is what a monster movie should be - a huge slimy sea monster created by American ignorance that terrorizes Seoul. It’s at times ridiculous, at others intensely scary but always entertaining. There is no other movie that redefined its genre the way The Host gave a makeover to the monster movie in ‘07.

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

Opened August 17th, 2007

Directed by Seth Gordon

Diehard video game fans compete to break World Records on classic arcade games.

Why it’s Great: Probably the greatest underdog story ever told on film, The King of Kong was loved by both critics and all who saw it play in limited release. It’s the story of two gamers, both determined to hold the world record in the classic arcade game Donkey Kong. Edited to perfection, this one plays out to be just as epic a battle as Jedi v. Empire. If you’ve ever played a video game or loved a geek, you will be easily captivated by this enchanting documentary.

To read the entire rest of the list, check it out over at First Showing. Also, stay tuned after the Christmas Holiday for more end of the year fun here at Film School Rejects. Merry Christmas!!

Read more articles by Neil Miller