Because you enjoyed it so much last year, I give you my Top Ten Best Films of 2007 list. These films will be counted down from 10 to 1, and please keep in mind these are MY picks and in no way represent any official movie institution. Feel free to disagree with my choices if you please. With that out of the way, onto the show.

10. Hairspray
Director: Adam Shankman
Starring: John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsdon, Queen Latifah
Rated: PG (For language, some suggestive content and momentary teen smoking)

Though I tried to shake and shimmy this movie off my top ten list, convinced that a three and a half star movie didn't deserve to be on this list. Not when several four and four and a half star movies were sitting around. The truth is though, while "Hairspray" may not be a perfect film by any means, it's certainly the most joyful film all year. Every time I watch it I watch with a smile on my face and my feet tapping along with the music. The soundtrack to the movie has also gotten the biggest workout this year, and I still don't tire of it (in fact, I'm listening to it now). Though much of the films publicity revolved around John Travolta's (excellent) portrayal of the insecure mother Edna, and will win a Golden Globe and possible Oscar, the movie really is a team effert. Nikki Blonsky is a rare find in the lead role as Tracy, and supporting actors Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, Queen Latifah, and even the usually annoying Zac Effron bring so much energy to this film it's hard to hate. Oh, and the music. We must not forget the music that makes each scene so much fun. There was a time when musicals were all the rage and people left the theaters with big smiles of their faces, humming new favorite songs to themselves. With "Hairspray," that time has briefly returned.

9. Michael Clayton
Director: Tony Gilroy
Starring: George Clooney, Tom Tilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack
Rated: R (For language including some sexual dialogue)

Though the year was filled with political dramas, the one that stood above the rest was "Michael Clayton." Admitingly, this was a fictional political drama, but you can't hold that against the movie when it's head above heals more entertaining then most of the other political films out there. Count Clooney in for another Best Actor nomination as the title character, who's brought in to do some major damage control for a corporation, only to let the situation get out of hand, and let his personal problems get in the way of his ability to properly judge the situation. With a steller cast, excellent writing, and several cool twists, "Michael Clayton" was the political film of the year.

8. Knocked Up
Director: Judd Aptow
Starring: Seth Rogan, Katherine Heigl
Rated: R (For sexual content, drug use and language)

I know that there has been a lot of praise for the new comedy "Juno," a movie where a sixteen year old girl gets pregnant by accident, has been getting all this talk about "best of the year" and "Oscar worthy," but I can't totally embrace the film. Part of the reason I can't totally embrace the film is because I remember this little movie called "Knocked Up," which had a similer premise about an accidental pregnancy. Except in this case it was about adults who did the dirty deed, and it was much filthier. That said, it was more charming, touching, and warm then "Juno" was. It had humor that sounded more natural then that of "Juno's" screenplay. On top of that, it had more to say about sex and unexpected prenancy then "Juno" did. It may not be for everyone due to the (sometimes frequent) crass content, but a closer look reveals one of the wisest and mature films of the year. A very conservative liberal comedy, if you will.

7. The Simpsons Movie
Director: David Silverman
Staring: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardly Smith
Rated: PG-13 (For irreverent humor throughout)

This movie makes my list if, for no other reason, then the fact that I've seen it five times in the theaters, and twice at home. Once on DVD and the other on BluRay. Every single time the movie is a riot, a laugh-a-minute comedy that refuses to let up. I swear, there must be a million jokes in this movie to laugh at. It wouldn't surprise me, seeing as how there were reportingly over a hundred drafts of the script written. Though the show has been in a bit of a slump recently, the movie proves that there is still many laughs to be mined in this franchise. "The Simpsons Movie" proves that once in a blue moon, a movie version of a popular TV show does work.

6. American Gangster
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Russell Crowe , Denzel Washington
Rated: R (For violence, pervasive drug content and language, nudity and sexuality)

I'm not a fan of Russell Crowe and I feel Ridley Scott is overrated. That said, "American Gangster" hits all the right notes for an instant classic. Though the two leads only spend a minimal amount of time with each other on screen, both storylines are balanced perfectly during this story of two men on different sides of the law. Ironically, the one on the wrong side of the road seems to be the one who has the best family life, while the cop on the good side of the law is having many family problems of his own. While I can't say I've ever thought of Ridley Scott as a great director, with "American Gangster" he's recaptured my attention again.

5. Paprika
Director: Satoshi Kon
Rated: R (For violent and sexual images)

Though my initial five star review may have been just a tad bit higher then the movie really is, there's no denying that this movie is a visual masterpiece that is wrapped in a cool story to boot. Satoshi Kon is one of the more underated directors in Japan, being overshaddowed by Hayao Miyazaki in many cases. Kon's films, like Miyazaki's films, are vibrant, weird, and visually stunning. That said, Kon's films tend to be a tad more graphic and adult in nature, making "Paprika" the only animated film this year made exclusively for adults that didn't feel like fanservice.

4. In The Shadow of the Moon
Director: David Sington, Christopher Riley
Rating: PG (For mild language, brief violent images and incidental smoking)

The the movie wasn't as controversial as Michael Moore's more publicized "Sicko," "In The Shadow of the Moon" reminded us of a time where the world had imagination, and a sense of accomplishment. I haven't given much thought about space travel for a long time, and I'm sure many of you feel the same. Once this movie was done I had a newfound love for space I had long forgotten.

3. Atonement
Director: Joe Wright
Starring: James McAvoy, Keira Knightley
Rating: R (For disturbing war images, sexuality and nudity)

With one movie the careers of four people have been forever changed. Director Joe Wright has established himself as a director to keep an eye on, and James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, and Saoirse Ronan have all gotten career boosters. This beautiful book about an unforgivable lie that ruins the lives of three people was deemed by many to be unfimable, except just the opposite is true. This is one of the more realistic tragedies of the last five years, one that will most likely go down as a classic that women will hold parties for to watch. Whether you watch it in a theater or at a party though, make sure to have tissues ready.

2. Ratatouille
Director: Brad Bird
Rating: G

Who would have thought that a movie about a rat who wants to be a chef would be one of the best films of the year. I thought for sure this would be the movie to break Pixar's back, but it only solidifies their reputation as the best movie studio in town. Saved in midproduction by Brad Bird, "Ratatouille" was a rare find in the theaters this summer: A movie that was charming and heartwarming without containing a single explosion. On top of that, Pixar achieved another impossible: They made a mainstream, sucessful cartoon for adults. One that kids could also enjoy if they wanted to.

1. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp
Rating: R (For graphic bloody violence)

I admit to being a big fan of Tim Burton movies. Most of them are dark, gothic, and about lonely figures. In that sense, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is just like all of Burtons other films, with one exception: This one is also really bloody. Oh, and the movie is a musical. One of the weirdest musicals ever, but a musical none-the-less. Though weird and unsettling, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is also a masterpiece of vision. Only someone with passion for this movie could have pulled it off this well, and Tim Burton clearly had a love for this film that makes it so that the film doesn't have a sour note in it. Even I have to admit the movie got me under it's spell, and I'm not likely to see anything like it for a long time.