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DEMONS & HUMAN SACRIFICES

I wanted to preface this list by saying I have not seen every film released this decade (2000-2009). In fact, there is a long list of movies that were made during these past ten years I have been wanting to see, but just haven’t got the chance to for one reason or another. A short list of those films that have fallen through the cracks is at the bottom of all the other lists.

I also wanted to say that I think the 90s were a very hard cinematic act to follow. It was a decade of originality and movie breakthroughs. As Bill Clinton ran the world’s most powerful nation, the 90s seemed to become a decade of art about slacking, questioning and reflecting on the past. And at the end of the day, most of the time, viewers, like the characters in the films, were left with optimism, hope and the belief that change was possible in the future.

Then George W. Bush took over the White House and all hope was gone. It showed greatly in movies as the entertainment world seemed to long for simpler times. Remakes, sequels, homages, spoofs, rip-offs and movies based on books, television shows, video games, cartoons, comic books and even amusement park rides pushed to the forefront at the cineplex. (I should note, most of the good films of the decade were based off previous works as well). Anger, mean spiritedness, self centeredness and greed without the innocence of the 80s, also slowly seeped into the mainstream, while critics ate up cliché melodramas that posed as “indies about social and racial issues.”

But luckily, amongst all the overrated, disappointing, exploitive, depressing, pretentious and mean spirited films (see list at bottom) and the worthless films I just couldn’t stomach to even try to watch (see that list as well below), there was good to be found thanks to filmmaking advancements and experimentation, as well as a resurgence of raw emotions from a discontented and disconnected society.

When I look at my favorite films of the decade, for the most part, they can be classified into two categories - individuals fighting inner/outer demons while trying to find their place in the world, and individuals sacrificing themselves or being sacrificed in the guise of the betterment of society. It’s as if cinema became both more personal and more globally conscious at the same time.

Of the films I saw, the below list makes up my favorites. These are the films that not only impacted me at the time I first saw them, but continue to impact and influence me whenever I think about them or sit down to rewatch them. I have included my Top 50 list, as well as a list of honorable mentions that almost made it. I have also included a list of films I loved when I saw them that have since become tainted, a list of my favorite documentaries, as well as favorite comedies, genre and found footage films not yet mentioned, and more.

Top 50 Favorite Films of the Decade (2000-2009)

1.) May (2002) - What’s not to love about Lucky McKee’s directorial debut, a timeless film about a wounded soul’s search to be loved and understood and the mayhem she causes. There’s great acting, writing and directing, but most of all no movie in the past ten years made me feel as much as May. Every time I watch this dark romantic comedy/psychological horror film I laugh, I cry and have my heart broken into a million pieces. Led by Angela Bettis as the title character, the cast also features Jeremy Sisto, Anna Faris and James Duval.

2.) Bully (2001) - Almost as powerful as May, is this love story/crime thriller from Kids’ director Larry Clark that stars Brad Renfro, Bijou Phillips, Rachel Miner, Nick Stahl, Michael Pitt and Leo Fitzpatrick. Based on a true story and adapted from the novel Bully: A True Story of High School Revenge by Jim Schutze, this voyeuristic film takes you inside the promiscuous lives of a well-to-do group of teenagers that learn, unlike their video games, in life there are consequences to their actions.

3.) 300 (2007) - Zack Snyder’s epic film, starring Gerard Butler and Lena Headey, was the top prize winner at the 2008 Pollies. Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley, 300 was a highly technical film that used blue screen and digital technology to recreate the Battle of Thermopylae (480 B.C.) set in a comic book world. It is also beautiful to watch, poetic and uplifting. The film, which cleared 200 million at the box office, showed the film industry R-rated films can be profitable and put Butler, who I have been a fan of since Dracula 2000, on the map as a bad ass action star.

4.) Mysterious Skin (2004) - Gregg Araki’s film about two young adults dealing with emotional scars from their childhood is extremely disturbing and also beautifully done. So much so, Mysterious Skin was a top winner in Polly Staffle’s 2006 Polished Apple Awards. Based on a novel by Scott Heim, the film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brady Corbet, Elisabeth Shue and Michelle Trachtenberg.

5.) Heaven (2002) - Tom Tykwer made several great films this past decade. But this is easily my favorite. Starring Cate Blanchett and Giovanni Ribisi this is a magical movie about love, mistakes, retribution, redemption, innocence and destiny. Heaven was a screenplay written by Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieslowski (Three Colors trilogy: Red, White, Blue) just before his death in 1996. It was originally intended to be part of a trilogy Heaven, Hell and Purgatory, but the other two scripts existed only as thirty-page treatments at the time of Kieslowski’s death.

6.) The Deep End (2001) - Directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, The Deep End tells the story of how far a mother will go to protect her child. Starring Tilda Swinton and Goran Visnjic this is the best film noir of the decade. The film is based on the 1947 crime novel The Blank Wall by Elizabeth Sanxay Holding, which was filmed in 1949 by Max Ophuls as The Reckless Moment.

7.) Get Carter (2000) - Aside from Rock III, this is my favorite Sylvester Stallone movie of all time. Directed by Stephen T. Kay, this remake of the 1971 film with the same title features Miranda Richardson, Rachael Leigh Cook, John C. McGinley, Rhona Mitra, Alan Cumming, Mickey Rourke, Mark Boone Junior, Tom Sizemore and the original Jack Carter himself, Michael Caine.

8.) Memento (2000) - Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece starring Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano and Mark Boone Junior, picked up where Pulp Fiction left off in the 90s and took nonlinear story telling to a completely different level. Many argue this film has very little rewatchable value, but I wholeheartedly disagree. Maybe I am just a lot like Pearce’s character Leonard Shelby and I forget what’s going to happen each time I sit down to watch it.

9.) Hard Candy (2005) - David Slade’s directorial debut, starring Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page, deals with the taboo topics of pedophilia, revenge killing and internet predators. A simple story with most of the film’s action taking place in one location with two people over the course of a few hours, Hard Candy is an effective powerhouse that was named top movie at the 2007 Polished Apple Awards.

10.) Unleashed (2005) - This often overlooked gem from Louis Leterrier tells the story of a man that was raised to behave like an attack dog and his struggles to escape that lifestyle. Unleashed also known as Danny the Dog stars Jet Li, Morgan Freeman, Bob Hoskins and Kerry Condon.

11.) House of 1000 Corpses (2003) - This was Rob Zombie’s first and best cinematic work. Starring Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon and Karen Black, House of 1000 Corpses is a funny, twisted and creepy kaleidoscope of a ride that I don’t want to ever end each and every time I watch it.

12.) The Butterfly Effect (2004) - Ashton Kutcher is at his best here as Evan, a young man who figures out a supernatural way to alter his life. Written and directed by the duo of Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber, The Butterfly Effect is mind blowing.

13.) Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005) - Miranda July’s hilarious debut about sexuality and relationships has a big heart. Me and You and Everyone We Know stars July, John Hawkes, Miles Thompson, Brandon Ratcliff, Carlie Westerman, Brad William Henke, Natasha Slayton and Najarra Townsend.

14.) Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) - Quentin Tarantino showed he can direct action as well as dialogue in this ode to kung fu films. After a botched assassination attempt on The Bride (Uma Thurman), she falls into a coma, wakes up, trains and kicks major ass. With Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Daryl Hannah, David Carradine, Sonny Chiba, Chiaki Kuriyama, Michael Parks and Michael Madsen.

15.) 30 Days of Night (2007) - This David Slade film is based on a 2002 graphic novel by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith and it translates to the screen wonderfully. 30 Days of Night, starring Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston, Ben Foster and Mark Boone Junior, is a beast of a vampire film, but most of all it is scary. Real scary. It’s also touching, visually beautiful and completely uplifting.

17.) Session 9 (2001) - Brad Anderson’s psychological horror film is about as creepy as you can get. Starring David Caruso, Stephen Gevedon, Paul Guilfoyle, Josh Lucas and Brendan Sexton III, fear gets the best of a crew as they work to clean up asbestos from an abandoned mental hospital.

18.) Unbreakable (2000) - Not only is this M. Night Shyamalan’s best, it is one the most underrated superhero movies ever. Starring Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright Penn and Spencer Treat Clark, Unbreakable is a brilliant one act film about a man who learns something extraordinary about himself after a devastating accident.

19.) The Rules of Attraction (2002) - An extremely cool movie that finally showed Roger Avary probably actually did have as much to do with Quentin Tarantino’s early films as he says he did. Based on a novel by Bret Easton Ellis, The Rules of Attraction stars James Van Der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, Jessica Biel, Ian Somerhalder, Kip Pardue and Kate Bosworth. The film, which features one of the best split screen scenes ever, was also the first studio movie to use Apple’s Final Cut Pro editing system.

20.) Cabin Fever (2002) - Eli Roth’s directorial debut, starring Rider Strong, Jordan Ladd, James DeBello, Cerina Vincent and Joey Kernis, is as funny and sexy as it is scary. This homage to horror movies of the past, centered around a flesh-eating virus in the woods. It also featured one of my favorite cinematic characters of the decade in Deputy Winston (Giuseppe Andrews).

21.) Snatch (2000) - Before marrying Madonna, Guy Ritchie was quite the bad ass filmmaker and this was the bloke’s best. Starring Jason Statham, Benicio Del Toro, Brad Pitt, Stephen Graham, Dennis Farina and Vinnie Jones, Snatch is a fast paced comedic ride through London’s criminal underworld.

22.) Requiem for a Dream (2000) - Darren Aronofsky’s tale of heartbreak and shattered dreams due to drug use is completely unforgettable. Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans star in this brilliantly constructed and edited masterpiece.

23.) Observe and Report (2009) - Jody Hill is a comedic genius. This was the first time I found myself, laughing at, laughing with and not only liking, but completely rooting for Seth Rogen’s character in a movie. Delusional mall security guard Ronnie Barnhardt is most lovable and interesting cinematic psychopath since Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver). Observe and Report also features Ray Liotta, Michael Peña and Anna Faris.

24.) Equilibrium (2002) - Kurt Wimmer’s smart and awe-inspiring sci-fi thriller features probably my favorite movie moment of the decade. In a time when all forms of feelings are illegal, John Preston (Christian Bale) finds himself overthrowing the system he is supposed to be enforcing, especially when you mess with his puppy. By the end of the decade, Bale became a draw at the box office, but this and American Psycho are easily his best two film with The Machinist a close third.

25.) LOOK (2007) - Shot completely from the point of view of cameras in malls, dressing rooms, school parking lots, ATM machines, grocery stores, cop cars, elevators, offices, storage rooms and cell phones, Adam Rifkin’s LOOK interweaves several storylines that represent a random week in a big city. Starring Hayes McArthur, Giuseppe Andrews, Miles Dougal, Jamie McShane, Spencer Redford and Rhys Coiro, LOOK offers a thing or two to contemplate about privacy, technology and justice, while upping our paranoia of big brother watching our every move.

26.) Dear Wendy (2005) - Thomas Vinterberg’s film, starring Jamie Bell, Bill Pullman, Michael Angarano, Alison Pill and Mark Webber, opens with the story of a social outcast and follows him through his rise to commanding a small army into battle, closing with stylistic violence. Its part tragedy, part western, part dark comedy and part coming of age drama. It’s also a love story about our country’s love affair with guns. It’s about how twisted and perverted our vision of the world becomes when we are blinded by the power of violence.

27.) Training Day (2001) - Antoine Fuqua’s crime drama starts out like an update of Dennis Hopper’s 1988 film Colors, but turns into an unforgettable good cop versus bad cop long day’s journey into night thriller. Not to mention Denzel Washington’s Alonzo Harris is another one of my favorite characters of the decade. With Ethan Hawke, Tom Berenger, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Macy Gray and Eva Mendes.

28.) A Scanner Darkly (2006) - Richard Linklater’s film based on a Philip K. Dick novel is, in a word, mesmerizing. I am completely transfixed to the screen anytime and anywhere A Scanner Darkly is on. Not only is the rotoscoped animation beautiful to look at, the overall psychadelic experience of the film, like Terry Gilliam’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, is what I would imagine it’s like after one has scrambled their brains good with drugs. A Scanner Darkly is also a jab at the government, their continuous “war on drugs,” as well as their belief in necessary casualties to protect the masses. The cast of Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Woody Harrelson, Robert Downey, Jr., and Rory Cochrane are all good here as well.

29.) Bubba Ho-tep (2002) - Part comedy, part horror movie and part heart warming drama, Don Coscarelli’s tale of Elvis and JFK, both alive and well in a nursing home, fighting an evil Egyptian Mummy, is one hell of a great film. As usual, Bruce Campbell (Elvis) and Ossie Davis (JFK) give top notch performances.

30.) This Is England (2006) - Shane Meadows drew from personal experiences to tell this story about a troubled 12-year-old boy, growing up in England during the 80s. An outcast, the fatherless boy gets involved with a group of skinheads one day on his way home from school. The wonderfully-acted film stars Thomas Turgoose and Stephen Graham.

31.) Wrong Turn (2003) - Desmond Harrington and Eliza Dushku fight off cannibalistic rednecks in this gripping tale from Rob Schmidt. Throwback films to the raw hillbilly terrors of the 1970s were aplenty this decade, but this one came out of no where and has continued to stick with me as a favorite.

32.) Sunshine (2007) - Directed by Danny Boyle, this sci-fi thriller takes place 50 years in the future and tells the story of a team of astronauts that are hoping to save planet Earth. Starring Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, Chris Evans, Cliff Curtis and Hiroyuki Sanada, Sunshine is a beautiful looking and sounding work of art.

33.) Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006) - Tom Tykwer’s film, based on a Patrick Süskind novel, explores an obsession that goes horribly wrong. Starring Ben Whishaw, Dustin Hoffman and John Hurt, Perfume is a beautifully executed film with solid acting, about a Jack the Ripper-like serial killer.

34.) Spy Kids (2001) - Robert Rodriguez put the fun back into family movies with his film about secret-agent parents being saved by their children. With an all-star cast of Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Alan Cumming, Teri Hatcher, Cheech Marin, Robert Patrick, Danny Trejo, Mike Judge, Richard Linklater and George Clooney, and a budget of $35 million, Spy Kids grossed more than $100 million and spawned two sequels and a slew of rip-offs. In a roundabout way, we probably have you to blame for all the big budget fake genre films aimed at kids, tweens and teens, but that is okay, I still love you Robert.

35.) Pathfinder (2007) - In between remaking classic horror films from the 70s, Marcus Nispel remade the Norway movie Ofelas, which was inspired from an ancient legend. The brutal and action packed survival film, reminiscent of First Blood, follows Ghost (Karl Urban), a Norse raised by an aboriginal tribe as he fights against Vikings, his people by blood, to save his adopted people.

36.) Watchmen (2009) - Often times, films that don’t quite sit right with me the first time I view them go on to be favorites of mine. A Clockwork Orange, Higher Learning and Natural Born Killers are past examples and now Zack Snyder’s Watchmen joins that list. So what is my complaint with this adaptation of the twelve-issue comic book series written by Alan Moore and drawn by Dave Gibbons the first go round? Without giving too much away, it has to do with the death of a certain character near the end of the film. I understand the death is the same in the comic book and see it was handled the way it was to hammer home the subtext of our perverted government’s thinking of sacrificing many to save the masses. To paraphrase Marilyn Manson, who lifted his Fight Song lyric from German writer Erich Maria Remarque, the death of one (super hero) is a tragedy, the death of a (super hero along with a) million people is just a statistic. Still, my heart wishes the ending were different as I feel Snyder sacrificed the most sympathetic character of his film for thematic reasons. That being said, this work of art is otherwise, oh so perfect.

37.) Mister Foe (2007) - A 2008 Polished Apple best movie winner, David Mackenzie’s film is a coming of age story about a teenager that has a habit of watching people from a distance. The movie, based on Peter Jinks’ novel Hallam Foe, stars Jamie Bell, Claire Forlani and Sophia Myles.

38.) Undertow (2004) - This southern gothic tale of a backwoods family is my favorite from David Gordon Green. Inspired by Charles Laughton’s 1955 film The Night of the Hunter, Undertow follows two brothers on the run with gold coins as they are pursued by their murderous uncle. The poetic drama stars Jamie Bell, Devon Alan, Dermot Mulroney and Josh Lucas.

39.) In America (2002) - This semi-autobiographical story of a poor Irish family settling in illegally and searching for a better life in the United States was written by Jim Sheridan and his daughters Naomi and Kirsten. A sweet and uplifting film, In America stars Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton, Sarah Bolger, Emma Bolger and Djimon Hounsou.

40.) Abandon (2002) - Highly praised screenwriter Stephen Gaghan showed he also had the chops to helm a project with this directorial debut. Abandon is a quiet movie about the loss of love and what that can do to the fragile human heart and mind. Katie Holmes stars as a student at an elite college, facing the pressures of getting through her senior year, the sudden reappearance of her old missing boyfriend and a possible love connection with a cold case detective. Benjamin Bratt, Zooey Deschanel, Fred Ward and Gabriel Mann costar.

41.) Dawn of the Dead (2004) - Zack Snyder’s third film on this list is one of the best horror remakes ever. Not only did Snyder not shame George Romero’s classic zombie film, he actually improved on the 1978 version. Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, Mekhi Phifer and Ty Burrell star as a group of survivors fighting zombies and holding up in a shopping mall.

42.) The Princess and the Warrior (2000) - Another gem from Tom Tykwer, the only filmmaker besides Zack Snyder with three films on this list. The Princess and the Warrior is a German love story with Franka Potente (Run Lola Run) as a secluded young nurse Sissi, who falls for a criminal that nearly causes her death, but also saves her life.

43.) Minority Report (2002) - Adapted from a short story by Philip K. Dick, Minority Report is my second favorite Tom Cruise film behind Born on the Fourth of July. I also feel it is Steven Spielberg’s best work since his amazing run directing and producing in the 80s. This sci-fi noir, which is similar plot-wise to Equilibrium, also stars Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton and Max Von Sydow.

44.) Brick (2005) - Rian Johnson’s film noir isn’t just a cool exercise in style with a bunch of cartoon-like characters double crossing each other. The film, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nora Zehetner, Lukas Haas, Emilie de Ravin and Noah Segan, has soul. It’s a fresh and exciting work of art that rejuvenates a genre that was in much need of help.

45.) Straight Into Darkness (2004) - Jeff Burr’s World War II film is beautiful and extremely surreal. Starring Ryan Francis, Scott MacDonald, David Warner, Linda Thorson, Daniel Roebuck and James LeGros, Straight Into Darkness tells the story of two AWOL American soldiers banding together with two elderly teachers and their students, who are physically, emotionally and mentally scarred orphans, to fight off Nazis.

46.) Shadowboxer (2005) - Lee Daniels (who also directed Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, which I have not seen) delivers an unconventional love story between stepson and stepmother, who are also contract killers. Mikey (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) and Rose (Helen Mirren) are hired by Mafia kingpin Clayton (Stephen Dorff) to kill his pregnant wife Vickie (Vanessa Ferlito), who goes into labor as they close in for the kill. Macy Gray, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Mo’Nique also star in this wild thriller that loves to break taboos.

47.) American Psycho (2000) - Mary Harron’s instant classic of a film based off a Bret Easton Ellis novel put Christian Bale on the map and made chainsaws scary again. The film’s look back at the materialistic and greedy 80s was also a perfect foreshadowing to where the new decade was heading. Besides Bale, who played Patrick Bateman (the brother of James Van Der Beek’s Sean Bateman in The Rules of Attraction) the film’s outstanding cast included Willem Dafoe, Reese Witherspoon, Samantha Mathis, Chloë Sevigny, Josh Lucas and Jared Leto.

48.) Hellboy (2004) - Bad guys can’t stop Hellboy; they can only hope to contain him. Containing him is actually harder than it sounds as the good guys find themselves struggling to do so, even though he fights for their side. Sadly, the same can be said for Red’s presence in cinema. Hellboy is too big for his first two adventures on the big screen and deserves so much better than Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy and Hellboy II: The Golden Army, which both starred Ron Perlman, John Hurt, Selma Blair, Jeffrey Tambor and Doug Jones. It’s not that I hated either film. In fact I loved them both, but I just feel we will be seeing bigger and better things from this character, who sits atop my favorite super heroes of all time list, in the future.

49.) (TIE) KatieBird*Certifiable Crazy Person (2005) and Mad Cowgirl (2006) - These are two very different independent movies about female killers, but I felt I couldn’t include one on my Top 50 list without the other. I have sort of an addiction to them both and keep coming back to them over and over again. Justin Paul Ritter delivers raw and angry in his beautifully shot and edited film KatieBird. Starring Lee Perkins, Helene Udy, Taylor M. Dooley and Nicole Jarvis, the film shows the genesis of a serial killer as KatieBird learns the ways of killing from her father. Gregory Hatanaka’s Mad Cowgirl on the other hand, is a surreal exercise in weirdness. Sarah Lassez, James Duval, Vic Chao, Walter Koenig and Luke Y. Thompson star in this murderfest, which also features raw meat, kung fu, religious perverts and a touch of incest.

Other Great and some Not-So Great Films From the Decade

Honorable mentions: Man on Fire (2004), Ninja Assassin (2009), The Life of David Gale (2003), 25th Hour (2002), Pervert! (2005), Scrapbook (2000), Baby Boy (2001), Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003), Amateur Porn Star Killer (2006), A Hole in My Heart (2004), Princess (2006), G.I. Jesus (2006), The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008), Sweet Sixteen (2002), The Alamo (2004), Danika (2006), Frankensteins Bloody Nightmare (2006), Storytelling (2001), The Village (2004), We Own the Night (2007), Dirty Pretty Things (2002), Max Payne (2008), The Machinist (2004), The Tracey Fragments (2007), Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004), Jarhead (2005), Highway (2002), Bamboozled (2000), Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D (2008), He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not(2002), The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (2004), Quills (2000), The Brown Bunny (2003), The Killing Gene (2007), The Believer (2001), Love Object (2003), The Weight of Water (2000), City of Ghosts (2002), He Was a Quiet Man (2007), The Cell (2000), Warning!!! Pedophile Released (2009), Monster (2003), Lost in Translation (2003), Boy A (2007), The Hours (2002), 21 Grams (2003), Zodiac (2007), Blow (2001), Explicit Ills (2008), Pieces of April (2003), The Legend Of Drunken Master (Made in 1994, but not released in the U.S.until 2000), The Quiet Room (Made in 1996, but not released in the U.S.until 2008) and Matchstick Men (2003).

Films that would have been in the top 50 had they not been tainted by sellout sequels: Saw (2004), The Grudge (2004), Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) and Underworld (2003).

Favorite sequels and remakes not mentioned yet: Open Water 2: Adrift (2006), Quarantine (2008), The Devil’s Rejects (2005), Hannibal (2001), Scary Movie 2 (2001), Scary Movie 4 (2006), Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (2002), Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003), Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000), Hostel: Part II (2007), The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations (2009), Amateur Porn Star Killer 2 (2008), Jason X (2001), Chantal (2007) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003).

Favorite documentaries: Crazy Love (2007), The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2005), Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price (2005), Manda Bala (Send a Bullet) (2007), Tyson (2008), Stevie (2002), Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (2000), The Iceman Interviews (2003), Tupac: Resurrection (2003), Capturing the Friedmans (2003), Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003), Super Size Me (2004), Bowling for Columbine (2002), Zombie Girl: The Movie (2009), Jesus Camp (2006), Biggie and Tupac (2002), Born into Brothels (2004), Spellbound (2002), When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006), Confessions of a Superhero (2007), Beautiful Losers (2008), and Hell House (2001).

Favorite comedies not mentioned yet: Black Dynamite (2009), Garbanzo Gas (2007), The Ringer (2005), Expired (2007), Little Man (2006), Not Another Teen Movie (2001), The Original Kings of Comedy (2000), Smiley Face (2007), Old School (2003), Idiocracy (2006), The School of Rock (2003), White Chicks (2004), Amélie (2001), Brutal Massacre (2007), Norbit (2007), Nacho Libre (2006), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001), Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008), Lars and the Real Girl (2007), Little Nicky (2000), S4 (2008), Bubble Boy (2001) and The Foot Fist Way (2006).

Favorite found footage films not mentioned yet: Paranormal Activity (2009), The Wicksboro Incident (2003), Interview with the Assassin (2002), Gang
Tapes (2001) and Head Case (2007).

Favorite genre films not mentioned yet: The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D (2005), Sukiyaki Western Django (2007), Casshern (2004), Pistoleros (2007), Altered (2006), Deaden (2006), Creep (2004), High Tension (2003), Severance (2006), Dracula 2000 (2000), Red Velvet (2009), Amusement (2009), Doomed (2007), Death Proof (2007), Juncture (2008), Orphan (2009), Penny Dreadful (2006), Bite Me! (2004), A Few Screws Loose (2008), Queen of the Damned (2002), Gamer (2009), Aspiring Psychopath (2007), 28 Days Later... (2002), The Gingerdead Man (2005), The Time Machine (2002), Final Destination (2000), The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003), The Forsaken (2001), The Gift (2000), The Glass House (2001), Joy Ride (2001), Eastern Promises (2007), Signs (2002), Jeepers Creepers (2001), Live Evil (2009), Hide (2008), Dark Country (2009), Killshot (2008), Mr. Brooks (2007), Bless the Child (2000), Surveillance (2008), Skull Heads (2009), Hero (2002), A Very Long Engagement (2004), Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004), Silent Night, Zombie Night (2009) and One Hell of a Christmas (2002).

Most overrated, disappointing, exploitive, depressing, pretentious or mean spirited: Sin City (2005), The Ring (2002), Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006), Fast Food Nation (2006), World Trade Center (2006), TMNT (2007), Planet Terror (2007), Inglourious Basterds (2009), Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008), Wassup Rockers (2005), Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters (2007), Living with Michael Jackson (2003), Down in the Valley (2005), Death Sentence (2007), Hostel (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), No Country For Old Men (2007), There Will Be Blood (2007), O’Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), Once(2006), Snow Angels (2007), Closer (2004), Hustle & Flow, (2005), Brokeback Mountain (2005), Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004), Feed (2005), The Hills Have Eyes (2006), Shaun of the Dead (2004), Mister Lonely (2007), Halloween (2007), Your Name Here (2008), Rambo (2008), Last Days (2005), Million Dollar Baby (2004), Elephant (2003), Funny Games (2007), The Dreamers (2003), Diary of the Dead (2007), A History of Violence (2005), The Descent (2005), Donkey Punch (2008), Toolbox Murders (2003), The Simpsons Movie (2007), Red (2008), Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006), BloodRayne (2006), Soul Survivors (2001), The Girlfriend Experience (2009), Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden? (2008), Cheerleader Autopsy (2003), Almost Famous (2000), Traffic (2000) , A Beautiful Mind (2001), Sideways (2004) and The Departed (2006), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) .Black Snake Moan (2006), Snow Angels (2007), Crash (2004), House of the Dead (2003), The Door in the Floor (2004) and Little Miss Sunshine (2006).

Movies I boycotted seeing out of principle (or because I just had no interest) and will probably never see. (Sure, call me closed minded, but I bet there a bunch on my list you haven’t seen either): Spider-Man (2002), Spider-Man 2 (2004), Spider-Man 3 (2007), Twilight (2008), The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Matrix Revolutions (2003), Ocean’s Eleven (2001), Ocean’s Twelve (2004), Ocean’s Thirteen (2007), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002). The Passion of the Christ (2004), Cloverfield (2008), Transformers (2007), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Juno (2007), Snakes on a Plane (2006), Meet the Fockers (2004), Night at the Museum (2006), Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), The Da Vinci Code (2006), Bedtime Stories (2008), You Don’t Mess with the Zohan (2008), Click (2006), Bruce Almighty (2003), Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), Fantastic Four (2005), Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), X-Men (2000), X2 (2003), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), The Love Guru (2008) and Star Trek (2009).

Have not, but want to see: This Is It (2009), The Uh-oh Show (2009), The Road (2009), Waltz With Bashir (2008), Mr. Nobody (2009), Run Bitch Run (2009), Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009), Blood: The Last Vampire (2009), 9 (2009), (500) Days of Summer (2009), Kung Fu Hustle (2004), Franklyn (2008), Trash Humpers (2009), Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009), District B13 (2004), Coraline (2009), Ichi the Killer (2002), The Hurt Locker (2008), Chocolate (2008), The Orphanage (2007), Johnny Sunshine Maximum Violence (2008), RocknRolla (2008), My Lady Vengeance (2005), Devil Girl (2007), Sick Girl (2007), Colin (2008), Slam-Bang (2009), Trouble Every Day (2001), Smash Cut (2009), Someone’s Knocking at the Door (2009), Black Devil Doll (2007), XII (2008), Wolfhound (2007), Audie & the Wolf (2008), Tony Venganza (2008), The Objective (2008), Memorial Day (2008), Revolver (2005), Zero Day (2003), Deadwood Park (2007), The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009), Thirst (2009), Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill! (2006), Wicked Lake (2008), A Gothic Tale (2009), The Situation (2006), The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007), Mutant Chronicles (2008), Oldboy (2003), Ratline (2009), Triangle (2009), Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001), Cigarette Girl (2009), The Secret of Kells (2009), Believers (2007), Ninja Cheerleaders (2008), Ken Park (2002), G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), Giallo (2009), V for Vendetta (2005), Seventh Moon (2008), Noble Things (2008), Hunting for Herschell (2003), China White Serpentine (2003), Alien Raiders (2008), Micmacs (2009), Somers Town (2008), Septem8er Tapes (2004), Street Kings (2008), Serenity (2005), [Rec] (2007), Vampire Girl vs Frankenstein Girl (2009), Little *ucker (2008), Sherlock Holmes (2009), Wrestlemaniac (2006), Life During Wartime (2009), the first two Godkiller (2009) volumes, and many, many, many more.

- Chad Clinton Freeman, December 2009