Welcome to part 1 of the KHYRON.NET Top 10 of 2006 awards. To get things rolling, I shall begin by listing my top 10 favorite movies of 2006. You will notice that the vast majority of them fall under the sci-fi/action/horror genres. This is because I rarely see comedy (romantic or otherwise) or computer animated films in the theater. Also, 2006 was a pretty good year for science fiction and horror.

There were of course more comic book and video game adaptations this past year. One of my favorite Philip K. Dick novels also saw itself translated to the big screen. But most surprisingly, only 3 of my top 10 movies of 2006 were sequels. And, more importantly, only 1 was a remake. In a market flooded with un-originality, it was a nice surprise to have seen a few fresh IP's.

But, without further adieu, here is Khyron's Top 10 Movies of 2006. They are ordered between 1 and 10; 1 being the best...

1 - A Scanner Darkly (Directed by Richard Linklater)

• Rating: 5 / 5 - Review

In fact, the movie unfolds much like an addict's life. In the opening scenes, everything is all fun and carefree. Characters joke around, go on crazy misadventures, and more or less act like children. However, as the plot progresses, the light-hearted atmosphere deteriorates into a hazy world of fear, paranoia, and frustration. Finally, the dramatic climax shows us first hand the mental and physical breakdown of our protagonist. Showing the horrors of addiction every bit as successfully as the book, A Scanner Darkly is a faithful adaptation that stays true to author Philip K. Dick's intended message

2 - V for Vendetta (Directed by James McTeigue)

• Rating: Unreviewed

Written by the duo that brought us The Matrix trilogy, V for Vendetta may not be the most faithful of graphic novel adaptation...but it is certainly one of the more entertaining. Combining intense action with an anti-big brother message, its politics were as charged as its slow motion action sequences. And with great performances by stars Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving, V for Vendetta is a winner.

3 - Rocky Balboa (Directed by Sylvester Stallone)

• Rating: Unreviewed

If anyone can make a comeback after 16 years of absence, it's Rocky. Surprisingly touching, this latest installment to the ultimate underdog story takes the series to its roots. Its uplifting message of perseverance puts this "final" chapter on par with the Oscar winning original in my book.

4 - Saw III (Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman)

• Rating: 4 / 5 - Review

Fast, brutal and questionably entertaining, Saw III delivers what it promised and then some. This movie, no matter how popular the franchise is getting, continues to stick to the roots of its niche genre, and for that I award it. With an ending that should feel satisfying to fans of the previous two films, Saw III breaks all expectations and continues to make this franchise the epitome of the hardcore Halloween movie-going experience.

5 - The Prestige (Directed by Christopher Nolan)

• Rating: 4.5 / 5 - Review

From the director of Batman Begins and the cult-favorite Memento comes this intriguing tale of two rivaling magicians. Borrowing its title from the third act of any good magic trick, The Prestige is a twisted amalgamation of late 19th century society and science fiction that, despite being all over the place in terms of genre, manages to be more successful than it probably should be.

6 - The Fountain (Directed by Darren Aronofsky)

• Rating: Unreviewed

Arguably the most artsy film I've seen all year, The Fountain is as much a treat for the eyes as it is for the mind. Though not quite the brain-screwer I had hoped it would be, it is a touching love story, nonetheless. It also features what is probably my favorite Hugh Jackman performance.

7 - Casino Royale (Directed by Martin Campbell)

• Rating: Unreviewed

I will admit that I wasn't terribly thrilled to see this movie. For one, I'm not the biggest James Bond fan. And secondly, I still wish the new Bond was Clive Owen instead of Daniel Craig. That said, I found myself enjoying this one more than expected. The action, although still intense, was toned down from the over-the-top stunts in other recent Bond titles. Likewise, the story itself was just generally more dark and gritty.

8 - Inside Man (Directed by Spike Lee)

• Rating: Unreviewed

I'm not usually one to rush out and see a bank heist movie, but with Clive Owen playing the bad guy, I couldn't resist. More than about just a simple bank robbery, Inside Man is an interesting combination of action, comedy, suspense, drama, and morales.

9 - The Descent (Directed by Neil Marshall)

• Rating: Unreviewed

Although technically released across the pond in 2005, this British-born horror/thriller made its way over this past summer. Dubbed 'chicks in a cave', its seemingly simple plot about a group of cave-diving friends soon turns into a bloody, claustrophobic monster movie. Although flawed, it is up there with the Saw and Hostel franchises as the cream of the crop of horror originality.

10 - Fearless (Directed by Ronny Yu)

• Rating: 4.5 / 5 - Review

If this is to be Jet Li's final martial arts movie, I do believe he has gone out on a high note. With mind-blowing, original fight sequences and a touching, emotional plot, Jet Li's Fearless is likely to be as good a martial arts film as you'll find this decade. For martial arts fans and otherwise, I highly recommend Jet Li's Fearless...

So there you have it, my top 10 picks for 2006. To finish things off, I now present to you the runners up as well as my prize for the worst movie of 2006.

Didn't quite make the list:

• Silent Hill (Review)
• Superman Returns (Review)
• Lady in the Water (Review)
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (Review)
• X-Men: The Last Stand (Review)

And finally...

The Worst Movie of 2006:

Ultraviolet (Directed by Kurt Wimmer)

• Rating: 2 / 5 - Review

Ultraviolet is a prime example of too many ideas and not enough self-control (or funding) to translate them to the screen. If you find enjoyment in mindless (and very repetitive) action and can stand some of the worst, prepubescent dialogue imaginable, then by all means try and find a theater still playing Ultraviolet. If, however, you're looking for a smart follow-up to Equilibrium, expect disappointment.

Stay tuned next week when my Top 10 lists continue with my picks in video games and television. Thanks for reading.

~Khyron, 2007