Gallery: Laugh, Cry, Blow Your Mind: Best Bits of 2010
01hit-girl-the-bloodletting-pipsqueak
With our iPods and DVRs maxed out and the cloud offering a never-ending stream of shiny new distractions, sniffing out the truly amazing bits can become a truly daunting task. Here's what caught our eyes and ears as we dog-paddled through the data stream: the most entertaining moments of 2010, as recalled by Underwire's key contributors. Read on for our picks and share your own favorites in the comments below. __Above:__ Hit Girl, the Bloodletting Pipsqueak ------------------------------------ The most startling four minutes of filmdom in 2011 came courtesy of [Chloe Moretz](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1631269/) (above, center). Playing potty-mouthed, purple-haired Hit Girl, Moretz, then 11, entered a room full of bad guys in *[Kick-Ass](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2010/04/review-kick-ass/)* and contributed a new chapter in the annals of funny violence heretofore dominated by Quentin Tarantino and his minions. As she earlier proved in 2009's *(500) Days of Summer*, Moretz possesses the rare gift of being able to make "precocious" seem charismatic rather than obnoxious. __What's next:__ Following her chilly vampire turn in Let Me In, the young star has eight projects in the hopper including a *Kick-Ass: Balls to the Walls* sequel. The challenge: Can 13-year-old Chloe Moretz transition from Hit Girl to It Teen? *—Hugh Hart*
02iron-man-extremis
*Iron Man: Extremis* -------------------- Iron Man 2 may have been 2010's favored Shellhead spawn of the movie-going public. But its lightweight version of the decades-old villain [Whiplash](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiplash_%28comics%29) (played by Mickey Rourke, doing time), was a trash-fab retread of Rocky IV's [Ivan Drago](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Drago), while its blow-dried bazillionaire Tony Stark (hammed with cheese by Robert Downey Jr.) spent the majority of the film drinking and moping over daddy. Comics true-schoolers were within reach of a much meatier, and more cerebral, man-machine experience in Marvel's motion comic [Iron Man: Extremis](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2010/04/iron-man-extremis-motion-comic), written by Transmetropolitan brainiac [Warren Ellis](http://www.warrenellis.com) with vivid art from Adi Granov. *Extremis* was based on the pair's six-issue arc that, in a nice bit of circularity, influenced the design and themes of the Iron Man film franchise in the first place. From its creepy carnage to its deep philosophy on nanotechnology, terrorism and the often-blind ambition of doom science, Iron Man: Extremis exhibited more gray matter in its first few minutes than Iron Man 2 did in its entirety. While the motion-comic format didn't have all the bells and whistles of director Jon Favreau's full-on Hollywood blockbuster, it also didn't have virgin-bait Scarlett Johansson or the fair and balanced Bill O'Reilly. Instead, it possessed what comics-based films should have: Sick action, smart writing and a compelling if troubling story that can accommodate its high-powered characters. __What's next:__ Iron Man 3 arrives May 2013, but has no director now that Jon Favreau has departed for "[something that lights a fire](http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2010/12/14/jon-favreau-explains-why-he-traded-iron-man-3-for-disneyland-trip)" in him. Which is to say, the Disneyland theme-park spinoff Magic Kingdom. *—Scott Thill* <embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoID=78917954001&playerID=27197670001&&domain=embed&" height="630" name="flashObj" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" seamlesstabbing="false" src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/27197670001?isVid=1&isUI=1&publisherID=1564549380" swliveconnect="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="650"></embed>
03girl-talk-unleashes-another-free-album-on-the-net
Girl Talk Unleashes Another Free Album on the Net ------------------------------------------------- It was probably a coincidence. Probably. The same week that Apple made its BFD announcement that The Beatles were finally going to be available on iTunes, Girl Talk released another free album on the internet: *[All Day](http://illegal-art.net/allday/)*. It was full of the usual magical mashup moments that Gregg Gillis is known for, and it'll probably fuel another crazy tour for the laptop maestro. Will it live on in your iTunes as long as The Beatles? Umm, dunno. Did it embody the of-the-moment immediacy that makes music great? Absolutely. __What's next:__ Girl Talk is going on tour. Who knows when he'll release another album, but let's hope Gillis has some great ideas about what to do with The Beatles' *White Album* and Jay-Z's *The Black Album*. Oh, crap. Forget it. *—Angela Watercutter*
04panic-attack-2
March of the Desktop Auteurs ---------------------------- Momentum continues to gather for the clever, self-taught computer wizards who love movies and spend hundreds of hours crafting a few minutes of eye-popping YouTube fodder to prove it. The fake trailers, DIY animations and short films with studio-quality visual effects dreamed up by these desktop auteurs don't take long to watch and, at their best, offer welcome respite from the chaff generated in the billions-uploaded universe. __What's next:__ When will the web spawn Hollywood's next major filmmaker? Jared Pitts' DIY [sci-fi trailer "Technotise" caught the eye of an *Avatar* producer](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2010/06/green-lantern-technotise/) in 2010. But it's one thing to handcraft a mind-blowing 10-minute video from digital assets, and quite another to work with dozens of cinematic collaborators and sustain an entertaining vision over the course of two hours. One of the first viral-spawned projects belongs to Uruguayan Fede Alvarez, who's now busy turning his alien-invasion YouTube hit "[Panic Attack](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2009/11/panic-attacks-giant-robots-land-indie-director-a-deal/)" (below) into a feature for Sam Raimi and company. And *—Hugh Hart* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dadPWhEhVk
05grant-morrison-shines-the-bat-signal
Grant Morrison Shines the Bat-Signal ------------------------------------ The comics industry's hardest-working visionary — alongside Warren Ellis, of course — went fractal with Batman's bottomless mythology in 2010. In astoundingly ambitious and subversively clever series like Batman and Robin, Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne, Batman: The Return and Batman, Inc., Grant Morrison dragged his [Zen billionaire](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2010/11/grant-morrison-batman-inc/) across time and space in search of uncharted territory. In the process, Morrison made DC Comics millions of dollars, and cemented his status — alongside Warren Ellis, of course — as the next comics-based brainiac, after the [controversial Alan Moore](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2010/07/alan-moore-watchmen), primed for Hollywood adaptation. Movies based on Morrison's comics would nicely complement Patrick Meaney's insightful 2010 documentary [Grant Morrison: Talking With Gods](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2010/11/grant-morrison-talking-with-gods-review)). That is, if Hollywood can step away from the Batman film franchise's fake realism and shoot for the fantastic fringe, where all things strange and cool reside before the mainstream co-opts them for blockbuster cash. "I think we want fantasy again," Morrison told Wired.com in November after launching Batman, Inc.. "We want worlds we can get into. We want to be superheroes. I think the audience is ready for wilder stuff. But Hollywood is still mostly dealing in a conservative mindset." __What's next:__ Hollywood dips its toe into Morrison's challenging but rewarding work when the animated feature adaptation of his acclaimed miniseries [All-Star Superman](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2010/10/grant-morrison-warren-ellis-hollywood) arrives in February. Although it's written by Justice League vet Dwayne MacDuffie, Morrison promised that the film is loyal to the spirit of his stunning comic. "I wasn't upset, because I saw the movie and it's one of my top three superhero movies ever," he told Wired.com. "Only the superfans are going to complain, because the film has about 90 percent of my stuff in it. Much of it is actual dialog taken from the book." *—Scott Thill* 
06unabashed-idas-internet-displays-of-affection
Unabashed IDAs (Internet Displays of Affection) ----------------------------------------------- Why stare at a cat in a sweater or a cuddly baby when you can celebrate someone else's earnest declaration of love? A fresh cache of twee wedding videos, viral love letters and engagement stunts have entered the online psyche. __What's next:__ Wired.com can never be sure, but chances are this trend swings the other way. 2011 might see the rise of venomous video breakup letters and other acts of romantic vengeance like this [nasty Netflix prank](http://thedailywh.at/post/2071524821/this-is-how-its-done-of-the-day-long-story). *—Allison Davis*
07film-soundtracks-as-hypnosis
Film Soundtracks as Hypnosis ---------------------------- Hans Zimmer, Trent Reznor and Daft Punk (above) gave the art and craft of movie soundtracks a significant kick in the ass this year with their propulsive scores for *Inception*, *The Social Network* and *[Tron: Legacy](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/tron)*. Mixing electronic sources with orchestral voicings, the composers produced mesmerizing music that downplayed the triumphalist melodies that usually service blockbuster drama. Instead, old pro Zimmer, Nine Inch Nails vet Reznor and French dance wizards Daft Punk populated their churning soundscapes with weird, unworldly effects that meshed in dark concert with the on-screen visuals. __What's next:__ Look and listen for Liquid Universe and Vitaliy Zavadskyy to plow similarly experimental sonic turf in their soundtrack for Zack Snyder's March sex 'n' violence fantasia *[Sucker Punch](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2010/08/sucker-punch-video/)*. *—Hugh Hart*
08pop-songstresses-lady-gaga
Pop Songstresses ---------------- Female-driven pop music seemed to meet its end when a newly shorn, umbrella-wielding Britney Spears went bat-shit crazy. But thank you, 2010, for the resurgence of female pop artists we love to hate and can't stop watching. From meat dresses to exploding brassieres and pseudo-drunk drunken speak-singing, this new generation is innovative and marginally talented. Lady Gaga (above), Katy Perry, Ke$ha and the rest, we tip our hats to you. __What's next:__ New albums and world tours. A meltdown or rehab stint is probable. *—Allison Davis*
09glee-continues-its-delightful-appropriation-of-memes
*Glee* Continues Its Delightful Appropriation of Memes ------------------------------------------------------ *Glee* spent the better part of its first season creating television's ultimate cultural mashup: Take a little bit of *Bring It On*, add some *Election*, mix in some underdogs-done-good, add radio hits and some tropes from every sports or dance movie ever and ... voila! TV with something for (almost) everyone. In the show's second season, creator Ryan Murphy and company have kept all the pop culture memes and added some internet ones as well. The entire underlying narrative of the much-hyped Britney Spears episode was that the New Directions glee club had Britney experiences while under their dentist's anesthesia. Sound familiar? Yep, "[David After Dentist](http://www.davidafterdentist.com/)." When Kurt married off his dad to Finn's mom, the glee-club kids walked them down the aisle singing Bruno Mars' "[Marry You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSJPcjD5j3o&feature=related)" in a style that was very, very "[JK Wedding Entrance Dance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0)." To be sure they didn't miss anything, show creators had Gwyneth Paltrow sing the internet-smashing "Forget You" by Cee Lo Green, and hired one of the guys (Darren Criss) behind the viral YouTube phenomenon known as "[A Very Potter Musical](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmwM_AKeMCk)." Well played, *Glee*. Well played. __What's next:__ Let's hope Ryan Murphy doesn't discover an interest in Chatroulette. *—Angela Watercutter*
10fringes-freaky-genius
*Fringe*'s Freaky Genius ------------------------- As junk-food-craving kook researcher Walter Bishop, actor [John Noble](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Noble) articulates pitch-perfect delivery in *Fringe* while demonstrating blithe indifference to human tissue and a ridiculously encyclopedic knowledge of chemistry, physics and neuroscience. Criminally ignored by Emmy voters, Noble's Bishop calmly recites borderline-credible explanations for reanimation, implanted devices, cellular mutations, telepathic psychosis, shape-shifting and other anomalies while slicing into corpses that make their way into his laboratory. Sci-fi exposition has rarely been so entertaining. __What's next:__ Noble will likely be looking for a new yet-to-be-decided gig: *Fringe* has been consigned to Friday nights. The ratings-challenged series will have a tough time topping its fall "crossover" episodes in which time-traveling FBI agent Olivia Dunham (played by Anna Torv) body-doubled herself to an alternate version of Manhattan. From this couch, chances for a fourth-season renewal look slim. *—Hugh Hart*
11banksy-exit-through-the-gift-shop
Banksy in *Exit Through the Gift Shop* -------------------------------------- Oh, Banksy. Was it not enough that you turned art-museum-hacking into selling-art-to-famous-people? You really had to go and turn being documented into making a documentary? OK, fine. You win. In all seriousness, Banksy's film, *[Exit Through the Gift Shop](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2010/04/banksy-exit-through-the-gift-shop/)*, was an excellent look into the real meaning of what "street art" is now. It was also a rare glimpse into how the elusive Banksy himself (allegedly) sees not only what art truly is, but how he sees the process of its creation. __What's next:__ Really? You want us to speculate on what Banksy might do? We'd consult our crystal ball but it's covered in spray-painted rats. *—Angela Watercutter*
12inception-memes
*Inception* Memes ----------------- Something special happened with Christopher Nolan's 2010 blockbuster. *Inception* was the film that launched 1,000 theories (mostly in handy charticles) but its thudding, dramatic score also lent itself to countless viral videos (and cool [Lego re-creations of key *Inception* scenes](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2010/08/lego-inception/?pid=587)). The [*Toy Story/Inception* mashup](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHJwgA54Gqk)? Brilliant. __What's next:__There is nothing left. You've spoofed it all. *—Allison Davis* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHJwgA54Gqk
13natalie-portman-in-black-swan
Natalie Portman in *Black Swan* ------------------------------- Director Darren Aronofsky's *[Black Swan](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947798/)* proves ambitious ballerinas are far scarier — and hungrier — than zombies or vampires. __What's next:__ *Black Swan* star Natalie Portman gets medieval with James Franco and Danny McBride in *Your Highness* (out in April) and totally hammered as a scientist in [Kenneth Branagh's *Thor*](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2010/07/thor/) (May). *—Nancy Miller*
© NBC Universal, Inc.14reign-of-oddball-comedy-community
The Reign of Oddball Comedy Community ------------------------------------- The lovable weirdos that make up the cast of Community are constantly praised for their ability to straddle the line between pathos and parody. Once the writers stopped with "will Jeff and Brita or won't Jeff and Brita?" (who cares! More Abed and Troy!), a wacky Season 2 brought scenarios like being stuck in a KFC space-simulation capsule and discovering the meaning of Christmas through song and *stop-motion animation*. (And don't forget [*Community*'s Twittersode](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2010/09/community-twittersode/).) __What's next:__ The rest of the second season and then a third that's as strong as the second (fingers crossed), with reappearances of Troy's monkey, Annie's Boobs and that mysterious baby Abed delivered. *—Allison Davis*
