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| 28 JAN 2005 at 12:26am |
SanjuroIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 34
Joined: 7 JUL 2004
Status : Online | 1. SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER...AND SPRING - Directed by Ki-Duk Kim
In this poignant Buddhist tale from South Korea, the changing seasons represent the cycle of life itself. The amazing cinematography is a standout, without question, but these images are more than just pretty pictures. They tell a powerful story of growing up, finding love, slipping into sin, and finally achieving peace. In Korean w/ subtitles.
2. MILLION DOLLAR BABY - Directed by Clint Eastwood
If there has been a more heart-wrenching film released this year then I haven't seen it. Eastwood is one of the very few filmmakers that has actually gotten better with age as opposed to losing his touch. This is a rich, well written, and genuinely character driven story that will surprise the viewers who believe they're in store for another formulaic boxing film. Don't be fooled, this is a brilliant motion picture.
3. SIDEWAYS - Directed by Alexander Payne
Alexander Payne is one of those consistently great filmmakers that don't come along very often. Election and About Schmidt were fine pieces of work, but this might just be Payne's finest hour. It's a story about two 40-something buddies on a roadtrip through California's wine country that consists of equal parts comedy, drama, and character study. And you might even learn a bit more about wine than you ever cared to.
4. MARIA FULL OF GRACE - Directed by Joshua Marston
In his debut film, Joshua Marston shows the confidence of a veteran. Additionally his leading lady, Catalina Sandino Moreno, turns in a terrific performance that should make her a star. It's not always easy to watch, but this tale of a young Columbian girl who becomes a mule for smuggling drugs into the U.S. is riveting filmmaking from start to finish. In Spanish w/ subtitles.
5. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND - Directed by Michel Gondry
While Gondry deserves a great deal of credit for how wonderful this movie is, anyone who knows the previous films penned by Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malcovich, Adaptation, etc.) understands that his name is written all over this thing. This is the best film of Jim Carrey's career as well. It's a blast visually, filled with clever camera tricks and dreamscapes, but there is a real human story here too. Stripped down to its simplest form, it's really just about a man and a woman who only realize how much they love each other once they've decided that they don't.
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| 28 JAN 2005 at 12:27am |
SanjuroIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 34
Joined: 7 JUL 2004
Status : Online | 6. TWILIGHT SAMURAI - Directed by Yoji Yamada
Released in late 2002 in Japan, this wonderful film didn't make it to the states in an official release until early 2004. Yamada, always popular in Japan for his Tora-san films, has created an experience for those who have grown weary of the samurai superheroes. Don't misunderstand, I love a well done superhero film, but sometimes one has to admit that human beings don't really kill at a thirty to one ratio. Here the samurai of the title is just a man who loses his wife to disease and must raise two daughters while serving his lord. It's the story of a man struggling to survive and do what's right, and oh yes...he just happens to be a samurai. In Japanese w/ subtitles.
7. BEFORE SUNSET - Directed by Richard Linklater
This sequel to Linklater's extremely romantic 1995 film, Before Sunrise, is arguably just as good. Nine years have passed since that evening in Vienna, and Jesse and Celine are older, more cynical, and perhaps wiser. Jesse has even written a novel about that night, and happens to be in a little shop in France on his book tour when Celine shows up. The bad news: Jesse has to catch a plane in under two hours. This is a wonderful, honest film with terrific performances and dialogue.
8. MOOLAADE - Directed by Ousmane Sembene
At 81 years old "the father of African cinema" has created another fine piece of work. The subject: female circumcision. It may not sound appealing, but this is a film that tackles an important issue in a part of the world where the barbaric procedure is being done to this day. Remarkably, the picture is funny at times. Sembene finds joy, I believe, in ridiculing the way stubborn, uninformed people hold onto old traditions that have no purpose. It's a universal message that applies to all cultures. And people who love movies will love seeing these views expressed. In Bambara and French w/ subtitles.
9. THE AVIATOR - Directed by Martin Scorsese
Though Scorsese doesn't churn out masterpieces the way he used to, he still has more skill than most filmmakers at their best. Additionally, Leonardo DiCaprio makes a great Howard Hughes, and the entire production is very beautiful, polished, and effective. The film delves into both the man's genius and madness, while proving that regardless of the ups and downs he had one hell of a life. The plane crash sequence deserves special mention for being so adeptly handled from a technical perspective.
10. 2046 - Directed by Wong Kar-Wai
While Kar-Wai's latest may not be in the league of In the Mood For Love or Chungking Express, it's good enough to make the final spot in this year's Top 10. It's sort of a sequel to In the Mood For Love, and quite frankly, in that sense, it's all about a man who can't get over the loss of the one woman he truly loved. Of course, nothing is ever that simple in a Kar-Wai film, and this picture is no exception. This is a stylish, beautiful piece of work from a gifted filmmaker. In Cantonese, Japanese, and Mandarin w/ subtitles.
Close, But No Cigar...
The Passion of the Christ
Kill Bill Volume 2
Control Room
Spider-Man 2
The Corporation
Hotel Rwanda
Baadasssss!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Garden State
Finding Neverland
Collateral
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| 28 JAN 2005 at 3:15am |
The Terror of the Wolf part 3Schattenjger
Posts : 2391
Joined: 11 OCT 2002
Status : Online | What, no Van Helsing?
[url=http://www.justadventure.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1136331866/0#0]GAMES FOR TRADE!![/url]
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| 28 JAN 2005 at 3:19am |
Terry PenrodGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 6693
Joined: 16 OCT 2004
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | .
AND no Catwoman?
Cheers, Terry
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| 28 JAN 2005 at 3:34am |
SanjuroIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 34
Joined: 7 JUL 2004
Status : Online | OMG! I forgot those?! What was I thinking?! Hehe.
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| 28 JAN 2005 at 7:21am |
Lucien21Guild Master
Posts : 4876
Joined: 9 JUL 2003
Location: 0
Status : Offline | I think my answer is in here somewhere.
http://www.justadventure.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=OffTopic;action=display;num=1104447281
However I saw Sideways yesterday on a preview as it gets it's UK release today. It'll probably be in Films of 2005 list as it was excellent.
Dear Diary, My teenage angst bullsh*t now has a bodycount.
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| 28 JAN 2005 at 3:36pm |
KamisoriXSchattenjger
Posts : 1700
Joined: 15 MAY 2004
Status : Online | Kung Fu Hastle all the way.
[IMG]http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/971/kamisig94ct.gif[/IMG]&&&&If the Earth would be a Sphere, and not a Disc, I wouldn't be so afraid to fall of the Edge...
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| 28 JAN 2005 at 6:53pm |
SanjuroIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 34
Joined: 7 JUL 2004
Status : Online | By the way Lucien, Lost in Translation was very high on my list last year. Just letting you know that I didn't forget about it, but it was a 2003 film for me.
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| 29 JAN 2005 at 2:23am |
bdeckedSchattenjger
Posts : 1620
Joined: 14 OCT 2011
Status : Online | I just saw "The Wedding Date" today...
that definitely won't be on my top 10 list of movies...
But to make this post relevant, my favorite movie of 2004 was Finding Neverland...
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