The Most Entertaining Films of 2007

Sure, we laughed, we cried, we stood up and applauded, but when it came to entertaining us, which films got it right in 2007? I'm an 18-year-old college student, and here are my picks for the best films of 2007, presented here in no particular order.

The Simpsons movie, Comedy, Animated
This long-awaited film based off of the long-running Simpsons TV show was well worth the wait. The film was witty, visually stunning, and created so much buzz before its release that it couldn't be missed. The film received rave reviews from critics and performed well at the box office. Though some wished that the movie had been longer, I say that's the mark of any good film - it leaves you begging for more.

300, Historical Fantasy
One of many recent films based on a graphic novel, 300 is an epic re-telling of the Battle of Thermopylae. To keep the film visually similar to the graphic novel, most of the film was shot against a blue screen, and all the surrounding imagery was digitally inserted. This created an extremely unique visual experience, which may be responsible for the film's fame and box office success. Indeed, the film broke records at the box office, despite indecision among critics as to its quality.

Ocean's 13, Comedy, Drama
2007 saw the release of several film series' third installments, and the most successful of these (not monetarily speaking) was Ocean's 13. This installment got back to a formula similar to the delightfully witty Ocean's 11, and was much better than the second movie of the series, Ocean's 12. With an all-star cast containing George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive for 2007, Matt Damon, this film was a definite crowd pleaser, and was one of the most entertaining films of the year.

Transformers, Science Fiction, Action
This high-action, high-tech thriller captivated audiences across the country with cutting-edge graphics, a sharp wit, and a fast-paced storyline. Based on a line of toys and popular cartoon TV show, Transformers did a good job of updating these classics and producing a modern, relevant plot. Though some devout fans of the old TV show were dissatisfied with their favorite characters' upgrades, the overall effect was appealing and stimulating. The film got mixed reviews, but performed amazingly well at the box office, and was ultimately one of the great successes in theatres for 2007.

Waitress, Romantic Comedy, Drama
Possibly one of the cutest and most uplifting movies of 2007, Waitress is a sugary-sweet, uplifting story with incredible highs and lows and a well-worth-it happy ending. The film is well-made in all aspects, and is heartwarming and honestly fun. The film did well at the box office, though it was a smaller release originally created for the Sundance Film Festival. Waitress was critically acclaimed, and is definitely worth seeing.

Knocked Up, Comedy, Romantic Comedy
Knocked Up is quite possibly the best romantic comedy of 2007 with, literally, something for everyone. It has lowbrow crude humor, important lessons about life and aging, and the miracle of birth all wrapped into one complete, fulfilling joy of a movie. It's a pleasure to watch, and the film rolls along smoothly and quickly. An extraordinarily big-hearted comedy, Knocked Up was definitely worth the ticket price.

Stardust, Fairy-tale, Romantic Comedy
This sweet, simple fairy-tale was some of the best good, clean fun I had in 2007. Stardust has an amazingly star-studded cast, an incredibly well-thought-through plotline, and such a remarkably darling story that it really deserves multiple viewings. The tale is narrated by the amazing Sir Ian McKellen, and contains a host of other tremendously talented castmembers, which make this deliciously original fable one of the most delightful family films of the year.

Superbad, Comedy
An original, hilarious, comedic masterpiece, Superbad is fast becoming a cult classic. The adorably pathetic characters are totally relatable and funny, without being ridiculous like Napoleon Dynamite. This is one of those films that spawns familiar quotes and inside jokes, so it's best seen with a slew of your closest likeminded friends, so that you can relive the laughs for weeks to come.

Across the Universe, Musical
Possibly the best musical of the year, Across the Universe is a visually stunning, mind-blowing, masterpiece homage to the Beatles, containing 34 of their best-loved songs, 29 of which are performed on-screen. If you're a Beatles fan, the many pop-culture Beatles references scattered throughout the film make this a cinematic scavenger hunt similar to Moulin Rouge. The film made it into the box office top ten, and generally got good reviews.

Into the Wild, Drama
This film based on the 1996 John Krakauer novel (of the same title) received rave reviews, and is one of those visually arresting, thoughtful films that makes you turn your thoughts inwardly and truly think about life. The story is captivating, the direction is amazing, and it's an all-around great film to watch. This film has already won several awards and is under consideration for many others. Into the wild is definitely one of the memorable big winners of the year.