Top 10 of the decade - with reasons!

Oh boy yeah some honorable mentions I forgot - the LOTR trilogy was a staggering achievement (I like watching them in the longer DVD versions, but in 6 parts not 3). Monster - fantastically affecting film. Team America made me howl, definitely in my comedy top 10 of the decade! A Jerry Bruckheimer puppet movie is such a brilliant conceit.

Liked Shaun of the Dead, but Hot Fuzz even more. Nemo is stunning and Shrek is the best non-Pixar CGI movie of the decade for sure (there should be an Oscar in this category just to give everyone else a chance...) The Dark Knight's clearly a big hit here, but actually left me pretty cold (seemed a really daft story with silly plotting to me) but was massively elevated by Heath Ledger.

Great to see Wall E on so many people's lists... hope it makes some of the critics' lists too.
 
Unbreakable Intriguing concept and some very memorable scenes.

X-Men Many prefer the sequel and see this as too preachy and uneventful, but it's the discrimination angle and intimacy of the small scale that make it my favourite comic book film.

Amelie The first half hour is hilarious. If only the entire film had been that good....

Moulin Rouge! Has it all - humour, tragedy, great musical numbers. A modern classic.

Spirited Away Wonderfully surreal viewing experience, like only anime can be.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin I was convinced I'd hate this but a friend spoke highly of it so I gave it a chance. Glad I did, it's so funny.

Drag Me To Hell Has some great OTT black comedy.

Jeepers Creepers Genuinely scary at times, this is one of the few effective modern horrors.

Shrek Right up there with Toy Story as one of the most fun & amusing animated films.

Sin City Visually stunning.
 
Fair enough, I did not have alot of time to post reasons. But will do so now.

10. The pursuit of happyness (Very emotional film, that I admit pulled at my heart strings, Will Smith's best work in my opinion)

9. Revenge of the sith (Part of the biggest film franchize of all time, a good way to wrap up the star wars saga, best of the prequels)

8. Brokeback Mountain (Another very emotional film, I have to admit thefirst time I watched it I did not like it too much, but have watched it several times since and realize how beautiful it really is.)

7. The Butterfly Effect (Very unique concept, I have watched this film probably around 50 times and it never gets boring. Proved that Ashton Kutcher can actually act, and not just play the fool.)

6. SAW (Another original concept, unlike any other horror film when it came out, gruesome and shocking, just a shame all the crappy sequels were made)

5. The Dark Knight (Good story, good action, and for the most part brilliantly acted, especially Heath Ledger's performance. Although if Christian Bale could act, or if they had a better Batman this would have been higher on my list.)

4. The Boune Ultimatum (Best of the Bourne films, much like TDK, good story, good action, and brilliantly acted.)

3. The Wrestler (Something that is so close to my heart, I have been a wrestling fan since I was 2 years old, and have been involved in the British Wrestling Scene for seven years. I admit at first when I heard about this film, I thought oh god no, as I thought they would make a mockery of the business, but this very much paid homage to the business and kept things real, and shown the Wrestling business in a truthful way.)

2. The Da Vinci Code (The best fantasy film of the decade, loved the book too. Tom Hanks never delivers a poor performance, so it is hard to go wrong with a film he is taking the lead in.)

1. Star Trek. (In my life there are three things that I love more than anything, Family, Wrestling and Star Trek. Was not sure about the reimaging at first, but after seeing this film five times the first day it was in cinema's I have to admit it is the best Star Trek film ever, and it is damn hard to beat The Wrath of Khan.)

So there are my reasons. Hopefuly some of you agree with them, or if not then who cares, everybody will have their own list and own reasons why.
 
10) The Devil's Backbone (2001) - Creepy supernatural thriller from Guillermo del Toro.

9) Napoleon Dynamite (2004) - You either love it or you hate it! Personally I thought it was hilarious.

8) The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003) - The word "epic" is over-used, but I don't think there is any other word to describe these films. The scale of them is amazing, even though some of the actin edges towarRAB hamminess.

7) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) - Just for the beautiful imagery. The fight scene through the treetops is gorgeous.

6) Belleville Rendezvous (2003) - Charming little animated film with a totally funky soundtrack!

5) Oldboy (2003) - Yeah, OK, mainly for the side-scrolling fight sequence, but also for the sheer brutality of the entire film.

4) The Wind that Shakes the Barley (2006) - Uncompromising, but thoroughly absorbing account of the Irish struggle in the 1920s. Cillian Murphy is amazing.

3) Dancer in the Dark (2000) - A truly astonishing performance by Bjork. Absolutely heart-breaking, but the musical sequences are joyous and never get old.

2) Kill Bill (2003-04) - I enjoyed both of them, but prefer part 2 to part 1. The long conversation between Bill and the Bride at the end is brilliant. Tarantino is the master of movie dialogue.

1) Pan's Labyrinth (2006) - An absolute masterpiece, nothing less. The acting, the special effects, the storyline, the setting, the twist at the end - I love it.
 
kill bill (both together) - i love the style of Tarentino. Great dialogue. cool music.
sin city - style, gore, action and bruce willis
shaun of the dead - funny from start to finish. rare these days
pans labyrinth - just magic
saw - original
final destination - tremendous brutal killing scenes
bourne identity - the new bond
lotr - they had everything
casino royale - bond is back
butterfly effect - really enjoyed finding out how his last trip back had ruined each new future.

I'm struggling to put them in an order of preference to be honest. They're all so different.
 
the first half of Wall-E is perhaps the best stuff pixar have ever done , but I think they made a mistake having humans in it , it kinda spoils it for me that second half .
 
Erm, that was 1999?

In no particular order:
The Dark Knight
An amazing reimagination of the Joker, and an all around excellent cast props up a decidedly average Bruce Wayne. Great movie, grounding comic books as much as in reality as possible.

Shaun of the Dead
Easily the best British film of the 00's. Well written and well cast.

Irreversible
Gaspar Noe's powerful and disturbing tale of two lovers over one crazy night. Played out in reverse chronological order. Features some disturbing yet incredibly powerful scenes in the context of the entire movie.

Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Yup. It shouldn't have been possible, but it was. One of the greatest epics in modern fiction was successful translated to the big screen by using the clever trick of picking an ambitious talented director that, without a big name at the time, was able to make a movie without any pressure on.

City of God
An amazing film about the life of two small boys, close frienRAB, in a Favela of Rio De Janiero. Recommend it highly.

The Pianist
An absolutely heartbreaking movie.

Requiem For A Dream
One of the most amazing pieces of film making I've ever seen. A great adaption of a 60's classic book, and showing how addiction to drugs, of any kind, can ruin people's lives.

Slumdog Millionaire
Deserving of every award it was given, and advantaged by a recession, Slumdog was one of the best feel good movies I've seen in many, many years. Incredibly well acted and directed.

Children of Men
An amazing story of society that breaks down as we're no longer capable of conceiving children. PD James finally getting the treatment she deserves on the big screen. The handheld one take previously mentioned was an absolutely wonderful and breaktaking moment in film.

GI Joe : Rise of the Cobra
JUST KIDDING! :D

I'm leaving slot ten open, as theres a few weeks left and a few films to see that could make it into my list.
 
Right then. In order:

There Will Be Blood
Because aside from Amelie (see below), it's the only film I have seen over the last ten years that I'm CERTAIN in 50 years time will still be hailed as a classic.

Mulholland Dr.
Because of its many mind-blowing moments. The coffee shop monster, the audition, Club Silencio, that sofa scene....but mainly because it IS fully comprehensible but by hell does it make you work to comprehend it.

Lost In Translation
Because I love Tokyo and this film perfectly captured the essence of being an outsider in that city. Also: the soundtrack. Also: BILL MURRAY.

Amelie
Because I've been thinking about it since I first saw it in 2001 and can't think of a single thing I'd change about it.

Pan's Labyrinth
Because it's flawless in every respect. I love the disconnect between the fairy-tale morality, which is complex and ambiguous, and the black and white, good vs evil of the 'real world'. And clearly, the visuals are stunning. And I wept like an idiot at the end.

No Country For Old Men
Because the Coens have to feature somewhere and this is their best film since Fargo.

Spirited Away
Because just look at the damn thing.

The Dark Knight
Because it is the most perfect superhero movie yet made.

Lord of the Rings trilogy
Because it showed that films could change the letter of a book while remaining true to the spirit of it. A lesson many are yet to learn (cough, Watchmen).

Slumdog Millionaire
Because Danny Boyle + Anthony Dod Mantle + one of the best-structured screenplays in years and years and years = gorgeousness. Best-deserved Oscar sweep in ages.

Bubbling under: Brokeback Mountain, City Of God, Up, Inglourious BasterRAB, Oldboy, Memento.
 
I have to be honest I'm not a huge film person and my taste is a tad limited (I'm not into action/horror/epic films and usually stick to comedies) so my list won't be to everyone's taste! :o:p

1. Moulin Rouge Never have I been so obsessed with a film as I was with this when I was 13/14. I love musicals so this so my cup of tea and the range of emotions you feel watching it is fantastic. It's completely unmissable

2. Love Actually I love this film and could watch it over and over. It's such a feel good film, it has a spectacular cast and it's Christmassy!

3.Zoolander One of the funniest films ever and another favourite of mine. There are so many hilarious moments it's untrue.

4. Harry Potter series The only epic series that I could get into and that interests/excites me. The films do the novels proud and although they have gradually become darker they're films perfect for families and people of all ages can appreciate them.

5. Mean Girls A rare example of a genuinely funny, clever modern high school/teen film. This is definitely an age thing but I am yet to meet a girl my age that hasn't seen this. It's one of those films you quote and other people get it immediately or that you can even relate to real life whether it's your friend forgetting stuff on a test because she learnt it in the lesson that the guy she liked was talking to her, or another friend dressing in hotpants, fishnets and cats ears for Halloween whilst you're looking more creepy than hot with a white face black eyes and fake blood....basically it's realistic as well as funny and smart!

6. Borat/Bruno I couldn't decide which to put in the top 10 but it's the same concept in each film. The characters are amusing and Sacha Baron Cohen pulls them off marvellously. They're also some of the funniest films I've seen, as well as shocking (due to both his antics and some of the things his victims come out with). It's fantastic at highlighting the idiocy, ignorance and bigotry of some people too.

7. Anchorman A simply hilarious film with hilarious characters. Also probably the most quotable film I've seen in my life.

8. Finding Nemo Pixar films never disappoint and I have a soft spot for this one. It's cute, funny, great to look at plus I won't often go back to the cinema to watch an animation I've already seen twice.

9. Hot Fuzz One of the best British films I've seen. Loved the comedy, loved the action, loved Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

10. Sex and the City One of the ultimate girlie films. Admittedly I didn't get into the show until 2002 because of my age but it was still great to see its transition onto the big screen.

Casino Royale, the Pirates of the Carribean series, The Pursuit of Happyness and Monsters Inc are definitely worth a mention too.
 
Up - Brilliant film, great story and even better in 3D
Shrek Trilogy - Fantastic. A great film for adults even more so than for children.
Pirates of Caribbean - Fantastic everything, acting, music, story, everything,
Harry Potter films - Brilliantly done, each one improves on the last. JK Rowling should be proud of them
Hitchhikers Guide to Galaxy - Amazing film! I love the humour in it and the whale falling from the sky - so funny.
Shaun of the Dead - Well it's obvious why this is here.
Butterfly Effect - Wow. What a film, was so different from anything else - I was shocked by most of it.
The Incredibles - Another animation, but that's because it was great, it was also a breakthrough in Pixar - it's the first time they've managed to do faces to a high standard.
Catch me if you can - I started watching this one day and it just hooked me into it. I can't explain, but it's got something about it that makes me love it.
Star Trek - Amazing remake, even a person like me who usually hates Star Trek loved it. It was great as it started at the beginning, so I could understand it, even if I hadn't watched the show.

I couldn't put them in order, too hard. Here are some runner ups though:
Batman Begins, Donnie Darko, Phantom of the Opera
 
1) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Probably one of the most accurate, brutally honest odes to love ever depicted on film. It plays delightfully on loves imperfections and the complexities thereof. With Charlie Kaufman
 
I'll more than likely forget a few films I'd like to include but I'll give it a go anyway.

10. City Of God (2002)
I watched this out of boredom one night with no expectations and it blew me away. The best portrayal of how crime infiltrates and destroys poverty stricken communities ever made imo.

9. Let The Right One In (2008)
Just when I thought the Vampire "industry" had lost it's bite up popped this absolute classic.

8. [Rec] (2007)
A new generation showing Romero how it should be done. Who'd have thought it?

7. Downfall (2004)
Bruno Ganz absolutely jaw-dropping as Hitler during his final days in the bunker. A stonewall classic.

6. No Country For Old Men (2007)
The ending polarised viewers but I loved every minute of it, and Javier Bardem gave us one of cinema's greatest villains.

5. The Departed (2006)
DiCaprio comes of age.

4. Dead Man's Shoes (2004)
Restored my faith in British cinema. Until I remembered Danny Dyer is alive while I was walking out of the theatre.

3. Master & Commander (2003)
Can't believe they didn't make a sequel. It was magnificent.

2. Sin City (2005)
Fabulous, Mickey Rourke was just breathtaking.

1. Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (2001-3)
The best "Epic" I've ever seen. A work of art.

Honorary mentions to The Damned United, Serenity, Capote, Walk The Line, The Mist, American Gangster, Star Trek, Million Dollar Baby, A Beautiful Mind, Rambo, Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer, Terminator III, Wolverine, Watchmen & The X-Men Trilogy.
 
here goes....

10. Mean girls (2004)
when i saw this movie mentioned earlier in this thread, i knew i had to put it in my top 10. Its a perfect representation of the culture of young people today, is hilarious and is the most quotable movie i know. Theres no clever plot or breath-taking visuals, just pure teen nonsense at its best.

9. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)
from the day i watched this film in the cinema, the world of harry Potter took over my childhood. to my seven year-old self, it was magical (and still is now :o)

8. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
my two favourite things in the film world brought together! laughs and zombies. This film is an instant british classic and the two couldnt have been put together better.

7. Finding Nemo (2003)
Probably my favourite animated movie of all time. The plot is fresh, and its funny, no matter how old you are. a great family film.

6. V for vendetta (2005)
the first time i saw this film i was absolutely blown away! its just one of those movies i could watch again and again.

5. Amelie (2001)
lovely film! everything is just perfect. Well written and unique characters, amazing setting. i could go on. in short...its a masterpiece!

4. 28 Days Later (2002)
this film kicked off my love for zombie horrors. Some of the scenes in this film will always stick in my mind, and its by far the most "real-feeling" zombie movie ever made imo. Id say the last half hour really lets it down though.

3. [REC] (2007)
the first film to truely terrify me. Madness from start to finish. By far one of the best horror films there is imo..and the foreign language, as i tend to find, only adRAB to the film for me.

2. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
LOVE this film. The final scene(s) leaves me with a stupidly huge grin on my face, and the characters are so cleverly built and complex. A lovely feelgood film!

1. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
pure perfection. Its a stunning mix of fantasy and reality, and the best film of this decade by a mile. unbelievable and epic. Guillermo del Toro is a genius!
 
My personal top 10

10 - Shaun of the Dead I was expecting this to be great. Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Edgar Wright and all the creators of Spaced with a few zombies thrown in = an hilarious zom-com.

9 - Star Trek I was never a fan of the tv series but i LOVED this. Great action and a few funny parts gives it a place on my list.

8 - Batman Begins quite surprised this wasn't on anyone elses. Christopher Nolan brings back Batman the way it's supposed to be (i will get you JOEL SCHUMACHER!!!!!) great and dark and realistic and a good performance by Christian Bale (well i thought it was at least in this one).

7 - Die Hard 4.0 I like it. I thought it had brilliant action and another great performance by Bruce Willis as the tough cop YIPPIE KAY YAY

6 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix the only one i thought was good. Actually i thought it was brilliant. Very dark and very well done.

5 - Memento What an exellent film. Briliant story. Brilliant acting. Brilliant Twist. AMAZING FILM!!!!!

4 - The Prestige I thought it was my favourite film of 2006. I actually thought Christian Bale was really good in this. Another great story and a great twist.

3 - Anchorman Just an hilarious movie. Will Ferrel was brilliant but the rest of his news team made the film for me. Steve Carell is just simply brilliant.

2 - Cloverfield Well this continues to be one of my favourite cinema experiences of all time. The monster looked awesome and it was just an amazing experience

1 - The Dark Knight Just an exellent exellent exellent comic book movie. I love everything (apart from Christian Bale who i thought wasn't as bad as everyone else thought). Heath Ledger is brilliant as The Joker but i thought the film as a whole was simply amazing!!!!!
 
OldBoy
Romanzo Criminale
A Very Long Engagement
Lantana
Revenge Of the Sith
Casino Royale
36
Nine Queens
The Incredibles
The Pianist.

:)
 
1. Serenity Only discovered it this year, after discovering Firefly late. And it's already become my most watched film of this decade, by far. Not all sci-fi has to be special effects driven, green screen filled spectacles, it can be well written and acted. Critically well received, but bombed at the cinema, disappointing, no sequel :(

2. Lord of the Rings Trilogy Unbelievably good, there is no way that Tolkien's books should have worked on the big screen. But somehow they pulled it off. Beautifully done.

3. Borat Possibly the funniest film I have ever seen. I laughed throughout the entire film, and that's rare for me. That's enough for it to go on the list.

4. District 9 Really well made, and genuinely touching.

5. Unbreakable I'm a Bruce fan, and in my opinion this is his best film of this decade. Thoroughly enjoyable and an interesting take on the 'super-hero' genre.

6. Transformers Far better than expected, despite some problems, its live action transformers, on the big screen, and it's actually quite good. Massive surprise.

7. Revenge of the Sith A masterpiece compared to the first two prequels. It was Star Wars as we knew it, finally.

8. Shaun of the Dead Simon Pegg and Nick Frost plus Zombies equals 'rom-zom-com' brilliance.

9. Terminator 3 It's only problem is that it is no where near as good as the first two, but few films are. If viewed as a stand-alone movie, it's entertaining throughout.

10. Finding Nemo A great film for all ages
 
Back
Top