Yesterday I posted lists of my Fave Music of ’09 and today I present lists of my Fave Movies and TV shows of 2009. I had a hard time narrowing down my lists for both movies and TV but, in the end, I think I got the list right … at least for me :) Here are my Top 10 Fave Movies of 2009:

At #10 is Avatar:

This movie, in IMAX 3D, was an amazingly beautiful sight to see. I’ll admit that the story (not at all unique) wasn’t the best ever but the storytelling coupled with the amazing special effects makes this movie worthy of inclusion on any Top 10 List for 2009. It was said that Avatar would change the way we watch movies in theaters FOREVER … and while I wouldn’t exactly agree, I will say that James Cameron‘s 15 years devoted to the making of this film were well spent. Avatar may not be a game changer but it very well may be a movie that we look back in years to come as a masterful modern fairytale.

At #9 is Moon:

This movie was all story. While it was cool to look at, the real draw here was the story and acting performance by Sam Rockwell. For most of the film, he acted opposite himself … and he did so very, very well. This movie was not really seen by a lot of people but I think those that did see did really enjoy it … I know I did.

At #8 is The September Issue:

This movie may have been called the “real-life Devil Wears Prada” but it was so much more than that. It was a really intriguing look into what it takes to publish the singly most important magazine issue in the world of Fashion. I loved seeing Vogue Editor In Chief Anna Wintour in action in this film but the real star of The September Issue is Vogue Creative Director Grace Coddington. This film prolly wasn’t very interesting to folks not interested in Fashion but I loved it immensely.

At #7 is Taken:

Taken was prolly the biggest surprise for me this year. The film was released in France early in 2008 and then in the UK in Fall 2008. It wasn’t released in the US until January of 2009 and without much fanfare. I think I went to see it on a fluke and I was totally blown away by how fun the film was. Liam Neeson, action star. It was kind of like a Bourne Identity film but with an older, more mature hero. When I sat down to compile this list, I knew Taken would be on it because it’s one of the films that I really remember enjoying this year.

At #6 is Drag Me to Hell:

Okay, I take it back … Taken was not the biggest surprise for me this year, Drag Me to Hell was — for sure! I distinctly remember laughing out loud the first time I saw the trailer for Hell. It looked stupid and I had no plans to waste my time … then word of mouth started going around and people I trusted said that they loved it. I checked it out and, wouldn’t you know it, I loved it too! The movie wasn’t trying to be anything other than what it is … a jump in your seat, fun, horror flick. It’s a lot of fun.

After the jump, check out my Top 5 Fave Movies and my Top 10 Fave TV Shows of 2009 …

At #5 is Up:

I was SURE that I would not be crying in the theater for this movie. I heard that Up had people all sad and crying and I was convinced that wasn’t going to be me. It turns out that I was misty-eyed just 10 minutes into the film (you know what I’m talking about). The movie is so full of emotion … I couldn’t help but be charmed. Damnit.

At #4 is Star Trek:

Director JJ Abrams managed to not only be respectful of the mythology of Star Trek but he also managed to forge a whole new future for the movie franchise. Chris Pine as Capt. Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock was just casting genius. Star Trek was a bold new vision of the much-beloved series. I can’t wait to see where it will go next.

At #3 is District 9:

District 9 is the most believable alien science fiction film I’ve ever seen. If ugly, gross aliens really did come to seek refuge on our planet then the way they were treated in the film would be pretty much the exact way they’d be treated in real life by us humans. This movie really put the issue of segregation into perspective.

At #2 is Paranormal Activity:

I don’t care what anyone says, Paranormal Activity is a terrifying film and I loved every second of it. Just like The Blair Witch Project before it, Paranormal scared the hell out of me … to the core. Without gore, without blood, without any of the other horror movie conventions that need to bash you over the head, Paranormal Activity embedded itself in my mind and stayed with and unsettled me for days after I saw it … now that’s true horror.

At my #1 fave movie of 2009 is Coraline:

Story by Neil Gaiman, 3D animation by Henry Selick … what more do you need to know? A wonderfully charming little novella was turned into a colorful and magical 3D film that speaks to the hearts and minds of both kids and adults. There was no film that I thoroughly enjoyed this year as much as Coraline. No question, my fave of 2009.

Honorable mention goes out to the films DØD SNØ (Dead Snow) and House of the Devil. Each was superfun to see and deserve another shout-out as I look back in the year in film.

Here is my list of my Top 10 Fave TV Shows of 2009:

1. Dexter
2. Skins
3. Torchwood: Children of Earth
4. Cougar Town
5. 24
6. Glee
7. Flash/Forward
8. Battlestar Galactica
9. Hung
10. Melrose Place

That’s it … my picks as my Fave Movies and TV Shows for the year. Please, don’t give me shizz for including Melrose Place in my TV List … absent Ashlee Simpson, it was a fun show :) What were YOUR Fave picks of the year?

NOTE: It’s worth stating that I have not seen every single movie and/or TV show that was released this year so it’s quite possible that a movie and/or TV show you think should be included is not listed because I didn’t see it. This list is just a compilation of MY personal faves of the year.