Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Entertainment › Movies (Theatrical) › Our Top 10's of 2003: Time To Throw Down!
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Our Top 10's of 2003: Time To Throw Down! - Page 2

post #31 of 210
12/27/03 at 5:58pm
Top 10 Films of 2003

1. THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING

2. THE LAST SAMURAI

3. LOST IN TRANSLATION

4. KILL BILL: VOL. 1

5. THE MATRIX RELOADED/REVOLUTIONS

6. WHALE RIDER

7. MEMORIES OF MURDER

8. THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI

9. SEABISCUIT

10. MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD


Honorable mentions:
Cold Mountain, Daredevil, Finding Nemo, Identity, Matchstick Men, Millennium Actress,
Open Range, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Russian Ark,
Together, 28 Days Later, Winged Migration, X2: X-Men United

Worst:
Hulk & Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (actually, they weren't that bad, but I didn't see much else this year that was worse)

Yet to See:
American Splendor, Bad Santa, Big Fish, City of God, Elf, The Fog of War, House of Sand and Fog, In America, Love Actually, Mystic River, Oldboy, Save the Green Planet, School of Rock, Shattered Glass, Tale of Two Sisters, 21 Grams, etc.
Reply
post #32 of 210
12/27/03 at 6:55pm
Top 10 most enjoyed films of 2003

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

If you completely strip away the emotional investment we have in these character, what are you left with? You are left with a film that is beautiful to look at, contains superb acting, and has more jaw dropping moment than anything else released this year. This film (and the trilogy) is one of the greatest cinematic accomplishments ever. Add back in the emotion we feel for these characters, and you have a cinematic journey that may never be equaled again. Plus, it was one of only two release to almost make me cry.

2. The Last Samurai
For me this was a very powerful film. I can pick out definite problems cinematically, like the heavy handedness of the ending and the predictability. However, this film was absolutely beautiful, and the acting was superb. I was impressed with Tom Cruise, but moreso with Ken Wantanabe who deserves academy recommendation for his work here. This is a fantastic film, and the soundtrack is a wonderful listen.

3. Secondhand Lions
Besides Amilie, I've never left a theater feeling better than after Secondhand Lions. I have yet to see this film on many lists of favorite films for 2003, but this is absolutely one I love.

4. Big Fish
5. Finding Nemo
6. X2: X-Men United
7. Down With Love
8. Alien: Director's Cut
9. The Matrix Revolutions
10. Something's Gotta Give


Bottom 5 of 2003

1. The Medallion
2. Charlies Angels: Full Throttle
3. Daddy Daycare
4. Bad Boys 2
5. Hollywood Homicide

And I was so dissappointed in Spy Kids 3D (after loving the first 2) that it is hand down the biggest let down of the year for me.
Reply
post #33 of 210
12/27/03 at 7:29pm
My 2003 Film List

Top Ten Last Updated: 2-3-04

2003 Top Ten List
1. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
2. Lost in Translation
3. Kill Bill: Volume 1
4. Mystic River
5. House of Sand and Fog
6. Nowhere in Africa (Nirgendwo in Afrika)
7. The Last Samurai
8. The Italian Job
9. 28 Days Later
10. Irréversible

2003 Bottom Five List
1. Spun
2. Darkness Falls
3. Dreamcatcher
4. House of 1000 Corpses
5. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Reply
post #34 of 210
12/28/03 at 2:14am
Since it seems many members are not considering documentaries (or at least they don't appear in many top ten lists), I am allowing for ten fictional films to be on the list just for reference. It makes more sense to include my favorite documentaries within the overall list than exclude them.


1. The Matrix Reloaded

No film this year has made my brain think as hard and my blood pumping as fast at the same time as Reloaded. Its action sequences are astounding and brilliantly choreographed, but it is the continuation of understanding one's role within the system that makes Neo a most powerful existential figure, and therefore the endless angles to evaluate this supposedly genre film. That Revolutions does not provide a most satisfying conclusion is not the fault of this chapter; every question posed by Reloaded can be chewed on by the viewers themselves while thinking through the thematic links of the first two films.

Unlike other finished or ongoing film series, the Wachowski brothers have utilized the middle installment to a maximum effect. It's not just bigger and better, or a continuation of a previous story, but a complete jolt that forces one to rethink the first film and our conclusions about it. Instead of expanding the series horizontally (as the Rings films do so well), the brothers bring ideas that give each detail, interaction, line, and look suddenly exponential potential. If criticism of the flatter exposition scenes are valid, then credit also must be given to Reloaded for unfolding each page with surprises that are intertwined with a sci-fi story that mirrors on life. This is astonishing storytelling.

2. City of God
If City of God is described as part Scorsese and part Tarantino, then maybe it is fair to say that Fernando Meirelles has made a film that is broader in its sociological context than either of those filmmakers have achieved so far. In telling the story of a troubled community, the film reveals the cycle of violence and brutality that is unblinkingly startling. Along the way there are colorful and crazy characters, hyper charged storytelling, social commentary and little moments of beauty that is cherished.

3. Kill Bill: Volume I
Yes, it has a ton of cross references, music choices are inspired, it's bloody, wholelotta fun, stylized and Thurman is great, but let's get to things not acknowledged enough about this film. The first fight scene establishes a tough physical world that revenge must take place in. Tarantino is playing cute with film narrative, but also keying in an aspect of violence that is important to the rest of the film. Every breathe is deep and tired, every look calculating and lethal. When the limbs start flying, it works partially because of its outrageousness, but also because of what opened the film. When Oren-Ishii faces off with The Bride, the stares at one another morph into a tremendous anticipation of confrontation. Tarantino is so inventive because he can present essentially the same content in not only different contexts, but altogether different strokes.

4. Capturing the Friedmans
There are two elements in this documentary that are outstanding: the elusiveness of truth, and the wealth of home-made footage. It's mind boggling that the family has so much of their internal fights on video. What's more astonishing is that the footage has survived all these years when the content is so explosive. The film looks into this disturbed family and sees neither side of the debate winning. The consequences of this case is evident, too. It's a shattered family. Unexpected insights on how human beings and family members deal with each other provide the final punch to make this into a gut wrenching film.

5. Stevie
6. Mystic River
7. Stone Reader
8. Finding Nemo
9. House of Sand and Fog
10. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
11. Whale Rider
12. Owning Mahowny
13. Sweet Sixteen

Favorite scores of the year:
1. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King - Howard Shore
2. The Matrix Revolutions - Don Davis
3. Nowhere in Africa - Niki Reiser
4. The Matrix Reloaded - Don Davis
5. Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas - Harry Gregson-Williams
6. Finding Nemo - Thomas Newman
7. Down With Love - Marc Shaiman
8. Lara Croft-Tomb Raider: the Craddle of Life - Alan Silvestri
9. Tears of the Sun - Hans Zimmer and others
10. Peter Pan - James Newton Howard
Reply
post #35 of 210
12/28/03 at 11:21am
Still need to see more films, but here's my list for now.

1. Elephant
2. Spellbound
3. In America
4. I Capture the Castle
5. May
6. The Shape of Things
7. Blue Car
8. Owning Mahowny
9. L'Auberge Espagnole
10. Lilja 4-ever
Reply
post #36 of 210
12/28/03 at 2:45pm
TOP TEN OF 2003:


1. 21 Grams
2. Irreversible
3. Mystic River
4. Kill Bill - Volume 1
5. Finding Nemo
6. Cabin Fever
7. Identity
8. May
9. Dead End
10. Bad Santa



WORST TEN OF 2003:

1. Daddy Day Care
2. The In Laws
3. Darkness Falls
5. Lara Croft Tomb Raider 2 - The Cradle of Life
6. The Matrix Revolutions
7. Paycheck
8. Dreamcatcher
9. Just Married
10. The Matrix Reloaded


Guilty Pleasures: Bad Boys 2 / Final Destination 2

Biggest Disappointments: The Matrix sequels
Reply
post #37 of 210
12/28/03 at 6:04pm
My Top Ten of 2003:
1.Lord of the Rings:Return of the King
2.X-2:X-Men United
3.Pirates of the Carribean(sp)
4.Kill Bill Volume One
5.Italian Job
6.The Matrix:Reloaded
7.The Last Samurai
8.Finding Nemo
9.Bad Boys II(yes it is my guilty pressure flick)
10.Terminator 3:Rise of the Machines

Biggest Dissapointment of 2003:
The Hulk
Reply
post #38 of 210
12/28/03 at 11:16pm
Top 10:
1. Irréversible
2. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
3. Cabin Fever
4. Lost in Translation
5. Elf
6. Big Fish
7. Kill Bill Vol. 1
8. Epidemic
9. Bubba Ho-Tep
10. Bad Santa

Bottom 5:
5. Johnny English
4. Seabiscuit
3. Gods and Generals
2. Marci X
1. House of 1,000 Corpses
Reply
post #39 of 210
12/29/03 at 12:02am
1. LOTR - Return Of The King
2. Pirates Of The Carribean
3. Mystic River
4. Lost In Translation
5. Kill Bill V.1
6. Finding Nemo
7. 21 Grams
8. Master & Commander
9. Intolerable Cruelty
10. X2

best mindless action - bad boys 2

worst 5 of the year
1. matrix 3 revolutions
2. american wedding
3. hulk
4. once upon a time in mexico
5. matrix 2 reloaded
Reply
post #40 of 210
12/29/03 at 12:21am
Top 10 of 2003
1. Lost in Translation
2. City of God
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
4. Spellbound
5. American Splendor
6. Northfork
7. Gerry
8. Sweet Sixteen
9. The Barbarian Invasions
10. The Station Agent

The Next 10
11. My Life Without Me
12. Finding Nemo
13. The Triplets of Bellville
14. Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World
15. Thirteen
16. All the Real Girls
17. Winged Migration
18. He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not
19. The Event
20. The Good Thief

Total 2003 films seen: 112
Movies not seen: Elephant, The Last Samurai, The Matrix Revolutions, May, Raising Victor Vargas.

Worst of 2003
1. The Life of David Gale
2. Friday Night
3. Beyord Borders
4. Cold Creek Manor
5. The Hulk
6. Biker Boyz
7. The Legend of Suriyothai
8. Pieces of April
9. In the Cut
10. Spun
Reply
post #41 of 210
12/29/03 at 6:47am
My top 10:

1. Cold Mountain
2(T): Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
2(T): Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
4: Open Range
5. Finding Nemo
6. The Last Samurai
7. Hulk
8. X-2
9. Gods and Generals
10. Terminator 3

EDIT: Sure enough, COLD MOUNTAIN goes to the top of my list after seeing it. Amazing film. Bumps PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN off my list.
Reply
post #42 of 210
12/29/03 at 7:55am
I'm not a expert on films, but I do know what I like and don't. So here is my list for 2003.

Best:

1. LOTR: The Return of the King
2. Matrix: Reloaded
3. Kill Bill 1
4. Pirates Of The Carribean
5. Matrix: Revolutions
6. Mystic River
7. X2: X-Men United
8. Terminator 3
9. Freddy vs Jason
10. 28 Days Later

Biggest Disapointment:

1. Hulk
2. Bubba Ho-Tep
3. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
4. House of 1,000 Corpses

Worst:

1. Tomb Raider 2
2. House of 1,000 Corpses
3. Anger Management
Reply
post #43 of 210
12/29/03 at 2:04pm
Last update: 02/29/2004
Criterion used: Oscar Eligibility
No. of films seen so far: 45

The top ten (so far):
1. City of God
2. Whale Rider
3. Thirteen
4. Lost in Translation
5. Mystic River
6. 21 Grams
7. Seabiscuit
8. In America
9. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
10. The Fog of War

The best of the rest, in order: Bend It Like Beckham, Finding Nemo, Girl With a Pearl Earring, Cold Mountain, House of Sand and Fog, Monster, American Splendor, Swimming Pool, Matchstick Men, Dirty Pretty Things, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, The Last Samurai, Something's Gotta Give, Love Actually, The Cooler, Owning Mahowny, Bad Santa, Calendar Girls, Pieces of April, Raising Victor Vargas, The Matrix Reloaded, Phone Booth, Intolerable Cruelty, Better Luck Tomorrow, The Italian Job, Freaky Friday, Normal, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, XX/XY, The Matrix Revolutions, The Haunted Mansion, The Hulk, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, May, Legally Blonde 2


Yet to see are: All The Real Girls, The Barbarian Invasions, Blue Car, Capturing the Friedmans, Dopamine, Elephant, Gods and Generals, The Good Thief, The Guys, The Heart of Me, Home Room, Irreversible, Jet Lag, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Laurel Canyon, Levity, Looney Tunes: Back In Action, Open Range, The Secret Lives of Dentists, Shattered Glass, The Station Agent, Sweet Sixteen, Together, Veronica Guerin, Wonderland


Rob
Reply
post #44 of 210
12/29/03 at 10:39pm
TOP TEN FILMS OF 2003
1) Camp
2) The Matrix Revolutions
3) The Matrix Reloaded
4) Kill Bill: Volume One
5) Elephant
6) Gerry
7) Better Luck Tomorrow
8) 28 Days Later
9) Cabin Fever
10) Suicide Club (Jisatsu circle)

HONORABLE MENTIONS
11) Love Actually
12) Bad Santa
13) Finding Nemo
14) Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
15) The Eye (Jian gui)

---

THE WORST FILMS OF 2003
1) Hollywood Homocide
2) Kangaroo Jack
3) Boat Trip
4) Guy Thing, A
5) Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd
6) How To Lose a Guy In 10 Days
7) League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The
8) Hulk
9) Identity
10) Anger Management

DISHONORABLE MENTIONS
11) Just Married
12) Dreamcatcher
13) Freddy vs. Jason
14) Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde
15) Spy Kids 3D: Game Over
Reply
post #45 of 210
12/30/03 at 6:32am
1- THE RETURN OF KING
No Contest, this is the best movie I have seen in 20 years.

2- Lost In Translation
3- Kill Bill Vol. 1
4- Master and Commander
5- Finding Nemo
6- X2: X-Men United
7- Matchstick Men
8- Love Actually
9- Matrix Reloaded / Revolutions
10-American Splendor
Reply
post #46 of 210
12/31/03 at 6:26am
Im holding off making a list until I see:

21 Grams,Monster,Big Fish and a few others.

I wasnt able to catch Matchstick Men,American Splendor or Thirteen

And Im DYING to see Bubba HoTep and Twilight Samurai
Reply
post #47 of 210
12/31/03 at 7:54am


Last Update: 21 Feb 2004

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2. À la folie… pas du tout (He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not)
3. Finding Nemo
4. Whale Rider
5. X2
6. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
7. 21 Grams
8. Mystic River
9. The Matrix: Revolutions
10. The Matrix: Reloaded

Just missing but worthy of note: Seabiscuit, L'Auberge espagnole, Master and Commander, Cold Mountain, The Last Samurai, Love Actually, and Lost in Translation.

Worst 5: Well, I purposefully avoided absolute dreck like Gigli and From Justin to Kelly, but I did manage to see one REALLY wretched one and a couple that were borderline (they only barely entertained me, oftentimes unintentionally on the film's part): House of 1000 Corpses is the worst I've seen not just this year, but all the way back to Battlefield Earth. Filling out the other bottom four for me are The Core, Irréversible (Irreversible), The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and Anger Management.

Reply
post #48 of 210
12/31/03 at 10:42pm

whale rider
school of rock
hero
finding nemo
capturing the friedmans
shattered glass
a mighty wind
city of god
winged migration
better luck tomorrow
Reply
post #49 of 210
1/3/04 at 7:06am
My Top 10 is now up.

~Edwin
Reply
post #50 of 210
1/3/04 at 2:51pm
Quote:
1. Peter Jackson’s The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers – This year’s crown jewel.

I hope that's a typo, Edwin
Reply
post #51 of 210
1/3/04 at 5:50pm
Quote:
I hope that's a typo, Edwin
copy-n-pastitis perhaps?

On another topic, just wondering how everyone determines the US/World/AMPAS/etc. release date? For example, something like Hero had a world and Hollywood release in late 2002 for AMPAS considerations and was subsequently nominated for Best Foreign Language, but theatrical release has been moved around several times, with IMDB reporting Spring 2004... So for those who go world release dates, this would belong in 2002, and for those who prefer US eligibility, it would be a 2004+ selection?
Reply
post #52 of 210
1/3/04 at 7:22pm
Once again, I'll recommend www.filmreleases.com as the arbiter of US-release eligibility. They're excellent at listing "platform" releases, so you'll get all the information you need if you use the NY/LA criterion.

As to "world" releases, I generally go with the IMDB on that. It's not always accurate, but it's central and generally reliable after-the-fact.

And Hero never had a US release, not even for AMPAS consideration (though it likely had Academy screenings) - the rules on eligibility for Best Foreign Language Film are different, and arguably anachronistic. It currently appears Hero is on the schedule for 16 April 2004; I'll probably be calling it #3A this year, much like I did with Brotherhood of the Wolf when I saw it at a festival screening before its official US debut.
Reply
post #53 of 210
1/3/04 at 7:58pm
.
Reply
post #54 of 210
1/4/04 at 6:20am
:b

I stand corrected. Thanks, Matt.

Quote:
copy-n-pastitis perhaps?

It's more like tiredtitis.

~Edwin
Reply
post #55 of 210
1/4/04 at 6:50am
Top Ten

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2. May
3. In America
4. House of Sand and Fog
5. Lost in Translation
6. Big Fish
7. 28 Days Later
8. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
9. Cabin Fever
10. Kill Bill: Volume 1

Bottom Ten

1. Boat Trip
2. From Justin to Kelly
3. The Real Cancun
4. Bad Boys 2
5. The Cat in the Hat
6. Spun
7. National Security
8. 2 Fast 2 Furious
9. Radio
10. Bringing Down the House
Reply
post #56 of 210
1/4/04 at 8:07am
Quote:
9. Radio

Reply
post #57 of 210
1/4/04 at 9:49am
My Top 10 List (Subject to much shuffling and revision):
Link to my 2003 Film List: Film List
Last Updated: Feb, 11th with In America.

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2. In America
3. Pirates of The Carribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearl
4. The Last Samurai
5. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
6. Matchstick Men
7. American Splendor
8. Lost in Translation
9. Finding Nemo
10. Mystic River


Honorable Mentions (AKA The Bumped):

Big Fish
Bend it Like Beckham
Better Luck Tommorrow
Cold Mountain
A Mighty Wind
Kill Bill: Volume 1
Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Tengoku no tobira)
All The Real Girls

Still need to see City of God and a few others.

Lowell
Reply
post #58 of 210
1/4/04 at 12:12pm
The top:

1. City Of God
2. Winged Migration
3. Russian Ark
4. 28 Days Later
5. Shaolin Soccer
6. Lost In Translation
7. In America
8. Pirates Of The Caribbean
9. Big Fish
10. LOTR: The Return Of The King

The bottom:

1. Darkness Falls
2. The Matrix Reloaded
3. Finding Nemo
4. Tomb Raider 2
5. The Rundown


I'm now reasonably happy with the order. For today, anyway.
Reply
post #59 of 210
1/5/04 at 5:18pm
The list will of course be continually updated until forced to make it absolutely final, but here's how it stands now.

Last update: ...

Current Total Films Seen from 2003 (using US/Canada release date criteria): 60

My Top 10 of 2003

01. Lost in Translation (United States, d. Sofia Coppola)
02. Irreversible (France, d. Gaspar Noé)
03. Spider (Canada, d. David Cronenberg)
04. All the Real Girls (United States, d. David Gordon Green)
05. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (United States, d. Quentin Tarantino)
06. 21 Grams (United States, d. Alejandro González Iñárritu)
07. Elephant (United States, d. Gus Van Sant)
08. Gerry (United States, d. Gus Van Sant)
09. City of God [Cidade de Deus] (Brazil, d. Kátia Lund, Fernando Meirelles)
10. Capturing the Friedmans (United States, d. Andrew Jarecki)

10 Runners-up:
11. The Station Agent
12. Morvern Callar
13. Mystic River
14. Swimming Pool
15. May
16. The Shape of Things
17. American Splendor
18. Masked and Anonymous
19. The Good Thief
20. Shattered Glass

Films I Really Liked and Would See Again:
21. 28 Days Later
22. Owning Mahowny
23. Better Luck Tomorrow
24. Raising Victor Vargas
25. The School of Rock
26. Elf
27. The Wild Dogs
28. The Matrix Reloaded
29. The Man on the Train
30. Spun
31. Love Actually
32. Charlie's Angles 2: Full Throttle
33. The Eye
34. Cabin Fever
35. Thirteen
36. Stuck on You
37. Daredevil
38. American Wedding
39. Spellbound

Films I Liked but Didn't Love Enough to See Again:
40. Sweet Sixteen
41. Winged Migration
42. Run Ronnie Run!
43. Old School
44. The Recruit
45. Phone Booth
46. Anything Else

Didn't Like in 2003 (from least worst to most horribly horrible)
47. Intolerable Cruelty (the first Coens movie I haven't completely loved. How sad.)
48. The Cooler
49. In the Cut
50. Born Rich
51. Duplex
52. Anger Management
53. Bruce Almighty
54. Something's Gotta Give
55. Scary Movie 3
56. View From the Top
57. A Guy Thing
58. Bringing Down the House
59. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
60. Just Married

Best guilty pleasure:
- Charlie's Angles 2: Full Throttle

Biggest disappointments:
- Intolerable Cruelty
- Bruce Almighty
- In the Cut

Films I still need to see, or sadly missed... and want to see:
in alphabetical order
Bad Santa
The Barbarian Invasions
Bend it Like Beckham
Big Fish
Blue Car
Bus 174
Camp
Casa De Los Babys
Charlotte Sometimes
Cold Mountain
The Company
Confidence
The Dancer Upstairs
A Decade Under the Influence
Demonlover
Dirty Pretty Things
Le Divorce
Down With Love
Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary
Fear X
Finding Nemo
Freddy vs Jason
Garage Days
Girl With a Pearl Earing
The Hulk
House of 1000 Corpses
House of Sand and Fog
The Human Stain
Identity
I Love Your Work
In America
In My Skin
The Last Samurai
Laurel Canyon
Levity
Lilya 4-Ever
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Lost in La Mancha
Love and Diane
The Man Without a Past
Matchstick Men
The Matrix Revolutions
A Mighty Wind
Mona Lisa Smile
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Out of Time
Party Monster
Pieces of April
Poolhall Junkies
Ripley's Game
Seabiscuit
The Singing Detective
Step Into Liquid
Stevie
Wonderland
X2
Reply
post #60 of 210
1/5/04 at 6:09pm
The Best:

1. 21 Grams
2. Kill Bill - Vol. 1
3. Lost in Translation
4. Elephant
5. Bad Santa
6. Hulk
7. City of God
8. In America
9. Dark Blue
10. Cold Mountain


The Worst:

1. Bringing Down The House
2. Bad Boys II
3. The Matrix Reloaded
4. Seabiscuit
5. Anger Management
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Movies (Theatrical)
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Entertainment › Movies (Theatrical) › Our Top 10's of 2003: Time To Throw Down!