Best movies of 2003

[Shadowdancer]

I am the entertainment editor for a small daily newspaper. Every year I compile a list of the year's best movies. These are my lists for 2003 (in alphabetical order)

There were so many good documentaries this year I had to give them their own list.

The Top 10
"American Splendor"
"Finding Nemo"
"In America"
"Kill Bill — Vol. 1"
"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"
"Lost in Translation"
"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World"
"Monster"
"Mystic River"
"School of Rock"

The Best of the Rest​

"All the Real Girls"​

"Bad Santa"​

"Bend It Like Beckham"​

"Better Luck Tomorrow"​

"Bubba Ho–Tep"​

"Cold Mountain"​

"Holes"​

"House of Sand and Fog"​

"The Human Stain"​

"The Magdalene Sisters"​

"Owning Mahowny"​

"The Station Agent"​

"21 Grams"​

"Thirteen"​

"Whale Rider"

Honorable Mention
"Big Fish"
"City of God"
"The Company"
"The Cooler"
"Dirty Pretty Things"
"Elephant"
"Freaky Friday"
"Girl With a Pearl Earring"
"I Capture the Castle"
"Identity"
"The Last Samurai"
"Love Actually"
"May"
"Matchstick Men"
"Northfork"
"Open Range"
"Pieces of April"
"Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl"
"Russian Ark"
"Seabiscuit"
"Secondhand Lions"
"The Secret Lives of Dentists"
"Shattered Glass"
"Something’s Gotta Give"
"Veronica Guerin"

Best Documentaries
"Bus 174"
"Capturing the Friedmans"
"The Fog of War"
"Lost in La Mancha"
"Spellbound"
"Stevie"
"Stone Reader"
"To Be and To Have"
"Tupac: Resurrection"
"Winged Migration"

 

[Wombat]

Wah!

That's probably more films than I see in a two year period, including rentals!

You must really love the movies

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

I'm with Wombat on this one.

I've seen like two of them....

 

[johnsemlak]

I haven't even heard of many on the above list.

I loved Master and the Commander, and I'm sure I'll love RotK when I (finally) see it.

I want to see Bend It Like Beckham

I liked Love Actually a lot.

 

[Hand of Evil]

my rank is at the end...

http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=64816

 

[WizarDru]

Wow, you didn't like X2?

What with two small ones and a really odd work schedule (not to mention a weekly game), I just don't get out to the movies that much.

Let's see, what did I like?

Xmen 2
LotR: Return of the King
Finding Nemo
Kill Bill, Volume 1
Freaky Friday
Pirates of the Carribean


Many of the movies on SD's list are ones I wouldn't have minded going to see, but took too much effort for. I generally only end up choosing to see a movie with some effort, and if the movie isn't really one that pulls me from the trailer or buzz, I usually end up waiting until DVD.

On a related note, just how interesting is "Winged Migration"? I mean, how can you watch a hour-and-a-half film about...well, shots of birds flying? I mean, the cinematography looked great, but the subject doesn't exactly sound compelling.

 

[Seonaid]

I saw three (Finding Nemo, LotR, Lost in Translation) of those in the Top 10, and I am left to wonder why some of the other ones didn't make it. Of those three, I would have kicked out Finding Nemo and LotR (say it ain't so!, but yes, it's so).

Of the others, I've seen Bend it Like Beckham (which really should be in the Top 10), Whale Rider, The Last Samurai, Love Actually (great movie, but I agree with the placement), Matchstick Men, Pirates of the Caribbean, Seabiscuit, and Secondhand Lions (also a very good movie).

I like all of the ones I saw. Of the ones I've seen, I would unreservedly recommend (that is, I'd recommend it to any adult I meet) Finding Nemo, Lost in Translation, Bend it Like Beckham, Love Actually, Matchstick Men, Pirates, Seabiscuit and Secondhand Lions (leaving out only LotR, Whale Rider, and The Last Samurai, because I feel they are more niche movies than the others, and I can easily see people not enjoying them, unlike the others, where you'd have to be heartless, deaf, and blind to not get something positive out of them ).

 

[Pielorinho]

On a related note, just how interesting is "Winged Migration"? I mean, how can you watch a hour-and-a-half film about...well, shots of birds flying? I mean, the cinematography looked great, but the subject doesn't exactly sound compelling.

Depends. Keep in mind that some people travel literally around the world just to see one bird species they've never seen before, and wait hours and hours in likely spots in case the bird comes hopping along.

Me, I can't stand birdwatching, although I love hiking and mushroom hunting (not that kind of mushroom, silly). But I was still mesmerized by the movie.

Although there are a lot of shots of birds flying, that's not all there is. There's scenes of birds preying on each other in really bizarre and gruesome fashions, scenes of mating dances gone hysterically awry (who knew that ice was slippery?), scenes of birds lost in horrific places they obviously shouldn't be. Birds eating, fighting, playing. Lots of really cool stuff.

If you can see it on the big screen, so much the better -- but if you watch it at home, at least you can fast forward if you want.

Daniel

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Ignoring RotK (which, like many, I consider the third act of the best 10 hour film ever), my vote goes to Lost in Translation. Bill Murray is the king. I'd even go so far as to say I'd give Sofia Coppola the Best Director Oscar over PJ. She's turning into a truly amazing auteur.

 

[Krug]

My Best of List:
City of God
Talk to Her
Return of the King
Kill Bill Vol I
Whale Rider