10) HARRY POTTER: AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
Alfonso Cuarón steps up to the money making machine that is Harry Potter, and actually delivers a movie that's decent not only by the series' standards, but film-making standards in general. Even if it didn't have the name of Harry Potter behind it, this still would have been a great, imaginative, and well designed production. Alfonso's stylistic eye, and subtle movements with the camera make this a movie that stands far above what past Harry Potter directors have done with the saga.
9) JERSEY GIRL
While skeptical at first about Kevin Smith's ability to play a movie as straight as possible I was quickly proven wrong. Kevin Smith is such a writer that even though Jay and Silent Bob make no appearances what-so-ever, he can still write a sweet and charming story. Shockingly Ben Affleck does a fine job in this movie as does George Carlin. Raquel Castro is wonderful as Ben's daughter in the film. All around it makes you feel warm inside. And to few movies do that these days.
8) ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
Michel Gondry directs Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, and the always popular Elijah Wood in this quirky movie about mind erasing. Jim Carrey takes huge steps as an actor and proves that he can tackle movies of a semi serious nature. The effects are well done if not slightly disturbing. Which is exactly what they should be.
7) THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU
What's great these days is that Bill Murray is evolving as truly one of the greatest comedic actors of our time. But at the same time evolving himself. Where as in the past he would have relied on goofy faces and wild antics, he's now become a smart comic. Which rare to find. Teaming up once again with Wes Anderson for yet another off beat comedy, Bill Murray, and Owen Wilson continue to make themselves a trifecta to be reckoned with.
6) GARDEN STATE
In the recent past I have become a huge Zach Braff fan. Starting with when I saw the pilot episode to Scrubs. One of my favorit tv shows now. When Garden State was released I quickly saw it, and was amazed when I saw that he not only starred in it, but wrote and directed it. The movie is pleasingly odd and artisticly directed. It's also got Natalie Portman in it. Which is already a vote in the positive side. Ian Holm also stars which is always a treat in itself. Just an all around great film.
5) TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE
Matt Stone and Trey Parker do comedy the way it should be done. No limits, and no holds barred. They step up to the bell and ring it. But despite the fact that they know what funny is, they are two people who stray away from the ordinary and really take chances. Making Team America a satire of not only action movies, but world politics as well, they also made it completley with marionette puppets. A feat not so easily done. The finished look was not only beautiful to look at, but stunning. A lot of hard work and dedication went into making the sets and backgrounds in props that all the puppets interact with. All while keeping the puppets funny and the story entertaining, they deserve all the kudos in the world.
4) THE AVIATOR
While Martin Scorcese didn't neccessarily have me for a while when it came to Gangs of New York, this one is a home run right out of the park on the first pitch. Leo Dicaprio plays Howard Hughes, a man plauged by his dreams and the people in his path of making them come true. His dream to break the bounds of earth and take to the skies, while living the life of a playboy and hounded man, ultimatley leading to his madness. While a little young for my taste, Leo still does a great job. Cate Blanchette plays Katherine Hepburn amazingly. A great treat is also Jude Law's performance as Errol Flynn.
3) HIDALGO
Viggo Mortensen once again takes a role, immerses himself in it, and makes it truly amazing. As Frank T. Hopkins, the first American to win the Circle of Fire desert race with his mustang horse Viggo shows that he is truly a throwback to the classy actors of Hollywood past. With a movie starring basically a man and a horse, it would have been difficult to pull off such a buddy flick as this. Continuously Viggo shows that he can take the reigns of not only his character but the entire movie. It's a great classic adventure along the lines of Indiana Jones. Omar Sharrif also stars as the Sheik. And JK Simmons proves that not only was he born to play J. Jonah Jameson, but also Buffalo Bill.
2) KILL BILL: VOLUME 2
The much, much, much anticipated follow up to Kill Bill Volume 1, lets Quentin Tarantino really flex his directing chops. Where as the first movie was a grand tribute to Eastern culture, Kill Bill Volume 2 is a grand tribute to Western culture. Uma Thurman's journey as The Bride, whose name we come to discover is Beatrix Kiddo, is one that not many actresses these days have the courage or talent to take. David Carradine is delightfully evil, witty and charming as the tenacious Bill. Truly making that role his own. And the great clash between Darryl Hannah and Uma Thurman is truly a fight that should live on in the annals of film history. Michael Madsen's character Budd and his story that for some reason we're forced to endure is the only downside. But the rest of the movie more than makes up for that obviously bizarre choice.
Brad Bird is an amazing director. He should be for crying out loud. He was trained under the guidance of classic Disney Animators from the legendary 9 Old Men. The story in which The Incredibles follows is that in a world where super heroes exist, but are forbidden by law to utilize their powers. When a threat finally emerges, it's all Bob Parr can do to hold in the joy at the thought of him returning to his super hero routes as Mister Incredible.
Everyone in the cast is amazing. And all the super heroes are everything I was hoping for. Especially the sequence in which son Dash, can unleash his super speed to it's limits. A scene that still gives me goosebumps when I see it.
Brad Bird has merged successfully with Pixar Studios and added yet another notch in their already historic belt. There hasn't been one Pixar released that hasn't failed to impress and wow me. Offically however, The Incredibles has zoomed right to the top of my all time favorit Pixar movies. Well done Pixar. Well done indeed.
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10) WHITE CHICKS
Please don't get me wrong. White Chicks is awful. It may very well be the worst movie ever made. Ed Wood certainly has a run for his money. But putting it in at #1 would be to easy. The rest of the movies on this list, I went into with at least a small glimmer of hope that they may have been well made. White Chicks however, I knew was going to be rotten as hell when I bought my ticket. I had no hopes that it would be good. I knew it was going to be rotten. So in the spirit of fair play it would not be just to the others to make this sitting duck #1.
9) AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
Ugh! Like poison this movie tastes. What the hell happened to you Jackie Chan? You used to be cool. Now you have the uncanny ability to make any movie you're in to suck. Not only that, but you're ruining movies based on classic novels. I seriously don't remember when the novel Around the World in 80 Days had a chinese kung-fu fight in it. Why don't you just rape it's corpse even further and have it guest star Arnold Schwarz... awwww crap!!!
8) LADYKILLERS
Normally the Coen Brothers are amongst some of my favorit directors. And whatever they movie they currently release, I'm usually the first to sing it's praises. But Ladykillers only killed the audiences that payed to see it. Sure Tom Hanks was entertaining doing his hysterical lazy southern drawl accent, but that along with the line, "We must have waffles!" are the only saving graces. The story fell very short of the slickness Ocean's 11 was over-flowing with, and less than half that same number of interesting characters. The story is loooong, and draaaawn out, and completley uninteresting. The visuals are bleed of all intrigue and life and I cannot stand JK Simmons this time around. Stick to Spider-Man and Hidalgo sir.
7) ALIEN VS. PREDATOR
Alien vs. Predator directed by Paul W.S. Anderson is a travesity of a mistake of a film. Taking 2 of the franchises I love and adore and merging them together in a mess that only be called Alien vs. Predator. Between the cold climate not hindering Predator's heat vision, to the 3 minute gestation period between face hugger and full grown alien, this movie is just directed poorly. There is no talent, and no visual eye behind any of the shots in the movie. Proving that when Paul W.S. Anderson gets his hands on a camera, the movie is assuredly going to suck ass.
6) RESIDENT EVIL: APOCOLYPSE
Yet another reason why Paul W.S. Anderson should not be allowed an sort of movie outlet. EVER! Not that he directed this useless lump of afterbirth, but he directed the first one and produced this needless sequel. Milla Jovavich is back as the dispicable Alice, and the entire town of Racoon City now plays host to the zombie infected individuals. Leaving most of the people in this movie to make the decision between living with the disease until it destroys them, or kill themselves and end the torture now. And the cold dead hand of Paul W.S. Anderson was felt through out the nation.
5) GARFIELD: THE MOVIE
Even Bill Murray can be swayed with the promise of large amounts of money for minimal voice over work. Wouldn't you? Still, nothing can excuse this lump for destroying one of my favorit comics ever. Breckin Meyer is John Arbuckle. And he destroys this movie solidly, but is aided incredibly by a horrible performing dog playing Odie, and an even worse CGI Garfield cat. The story is on par with that of MVP: Most Valuable Primate, and BINGO. Meaning that I will shoot myself in the head before I see this movie one more time.
4) ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BERGUNDY
Dear Lord help me, I never thought I'd see the day when I would be sick to death of Will Ferrell playing...Will Ferrell. And in this movie, he does. Over and over and over and over and over again. Christ in Heaven, make it stop! For all that is Holy, my mind is about to explode out of my skull if I have to see yet another patented Will Ferrell gag!
3) CATWOMAN
Halle Berry is the pit of evil. A blackhole in which no light in the universe can escape. She has sucked into the hole all the planetary surroundings and regurtitated out the excremental remains of all surrounding life. She gorged herself on all things marvelous and cool about the catwoman character. She's completley ruined it all for me. Sharone Stone is also not helping either, but then again, when does she? I will never, ever be able to look at the catwoman character the same way again. Curse you Halle Berry.
2) VAN HELSING
In the year 2003, Hugh Jackman opened up the movie season with X2. This summer, he opens it up with Van Helsing. And it couldn't have been a bigger dissapointment if it had tried. Stephen Sommers is Satan. The Mummy was mildly entertaining, The Mummy Returns was humiliating, and now Van Helsing is the stranger in the night robbing you of $9.50. I guess Mister Sommers' directing flair for this go around was to have his heroes on the ground as little as possible. By having absolutley everyone in the cast swing on a rope at one point or another. And also having the only way to kill Dracual be the bite of a Werewolf, this movie is busting at the seems with crap and fluff.
M. Night Shyamalan has let me down like no one could ever let down a fan. Starting with The Sixth Sense and continuing forward in his career, he has continually evolved as a masterful storyteller. But with this latest entry, all he mangaes to do is rehash a Twilight Zone episode and jerk us around for over 2 hour.
Seriously, this movie would have been wonderful if there had just been some real monsters in it. Not a bunch of old people running around in monster costumes. It automatically and without fail, ruin the entire movie by making it just another rehashed mockery of Scream. Who'se under the mask? I have no idea!
Missed oppurtunities abound in this flick. Setting up the whole blind girl thing only being able to see colors. And then nothing else from it. I mean come on!! I will seriously think twice about seeing his next movie, and as for this one, I will steer clear of this like it's riddled with leprosy. Which it is.