# Best movie you've seen this year?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [September 19, 2004, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047 "2004-09-19T21:47:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/21 "2004-09-20T19:21:41Z")
> [@RikWriter](#):
>
> Of those two, I’d have to pick Spider-Man 2…it was more believable.
Wow, you mean all that file footage (90% of the movie) in **F9/11** was faked, and Spider-Man really exists? Damn, learn something new every day!
My favorites so far this year (that were released this year):
**Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Dogville
Kill Bill, Vol. 2
Fahrenheit 9/11
Control Room
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Saved!
Before Sunset
The Corporation**
---
### Author:  [@Duderdude2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duderdude2)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/22 "2004-09-20T19:29:53Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> _I, Robot?_ You’re joking, right?
No, I’m not, hence grouping it with Miracle and the lack of any jokes. It may not be an especially deep movie, but I found it engrossing and one of the most entertaining movies of the year. I don’t know about you, but I don’t go to movies to obtain a new outlook on life, I go to have fun. Now if you’re quite done questioning my reasoning, I’ll be on my way.
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### Author:  [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2004, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/23 "2004-09-20T23:00:28Z")
> [@Aesiron](#):
>
> Garden State, by far. It’s the only movie I’ve ever seen mutliple times in a theatre and I intend to watch it even more if the second run theatre in Salem picks it up after its initial run.
>
> As for why it’s so good, I would have to say it … just is. The storyline is a tad bit on the pedestrian side (finding yourself) but the writing and production by Braff in addition to the ethereal soundtrack and the acting by Braff, Portman, Sarsgard, and Holm made the film a hundred times what it might have otherwise been.
>
> I seriously love this movie, consider it my favorite movie of all time, and will own it the instant it becomes available on DVD… hell, it’ll probably be why I finally get a DVD player after not owning one for the past year.
Dude, I distinctly remember being in #straightdope a few months ago, trying to persuade a few people - much to their annoyance - to go see that movie.
Back on topic - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I can actually say that it made me laugh and cry with no intention of sarcasm or irony. I saw it six times in theatres. I convinced my friends (in clumps) to see it. They all did. They all thanked me. More than once. An utter joy.
From Jim Carrey’s unexpectedly sublime performance to the powerful score to the brilliant cinematography to… I could go on, but I’d end up citing every element in this movie, because **everything** worked.
But the foundation for this great, great film was Charlie Kaufman’s aptitude for the bizarre combined with Gondry’s creativity and grasp of human emotion (something that Kaufman sometimes misses when he isn’t reigned in by a good director).
Runners up:
Garden State (Aesiron said it pretty well)
Hero (Unprecedented visual spectacle)
Napoleon Dynamite (Dumbest thing I’ve ever seen, but one of the funniest, too)
---
### Author:  [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/24 "2004-09-21T00:35:01Z")
Well, considering that the only movies I’ve seen in the theater this year are _Along Came Polly_, _Anchorman_, and \*Harry Potter … \*, I’d say that my favorite was _Along Came Polly_.
Why yes, I do need to get out more often!
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### Author:  [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2004, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/25 "2004-09-21T01:42:12Z")
I think _Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow_ will end up being my favorite overall, but _Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind_, _Kill Bill 2_, and _Spider-Man 2_ aren’t far behind (in fact, Spidey would probably top the list if it hadn’t been for some stupid little stuff that bugged me).
_Garden State_ is up there, too.
And, yeah, I’m guessing _The Incredibles_ will be pretty high up on my list when it comes out, although I can’t see anything knocking _Sky Captain_ out. _Loved_ that movie.
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### Author:  [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/26 "2004-09-21T01:57:24Z")
> [@Gadfly](#):
>
> Dude, I distinctly remember being in #straightdope a few months ago, trying to persuade a few people - much to their annoyance - to go see that movie.
I’ve been singing its praises for the past month abd a few people have expressed interest but I have no idea if I’ve convinced anyone to see it yet. I’m going to keep trying though.
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2004, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/27 "2004-09-21T14:18:02Z")
I absolutely loved Spiderman 2. Fantastic.
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### Author:  [@ShadiRoxan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadiRoxan)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2004, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/28 "2004-09-21T14:42:12Z")
**Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind** is at the top of my list. **Garden State** is a close second.
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### Author:  [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/29 "2004-09-21T14:51:50Z")
**Before Sunset** probably.
I also like **Spartan** quite a bit, **KBV2** and **Shrek 2**.
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2004, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/30 "2004-09-21T15:01:56Z")
> [@Trunk](#):
>
> **Before Sunset** probably.
>
> I also like **Spartan** quite a bit, **KBV2** and **Shrek 2**.
_Shrek 2_ also got mentioned in the “Worst movie you’ve seen this year?” thread.
I guess there’s no accounting for taste.
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### Author:  [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2004, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/31 "2004-09-21T15:23:32Z")
Love, Actually.
A most excellent film. bit of a sleeper, I think.
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### Author:  [@Jammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jammer)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/32 "2004-09-21T16:12:43Z")
KBV2 stands out for me, but I did enjoy Spiderman 2 and even The Bourne Supremecy. I’ve had Garden State recommended so many times, that I’ll probably try it soon. Who knows if I’ll like it, but I’m pretty easy to please when it comes to movies.
Jammer
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/33 "2004-09-21T16:19:56Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> **Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban**
Aside from LOTR: ROTK, this is the only move we’ve seen recently. It’s a bit too inconvenient to go out to movies being as we’re without a car until Thanksgiving. The only theater directly on our bus line isn’t there anymore.
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### Author:  [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/34 "2004-09-21T16:46:24Z")
I haven’t seen as many movies this year as I usually would. I am afraid that very few people saw **Before Sunset**. First, it requires that you saw **Before Sunrise** , and second that you could find a theater playing it. I felt it showed rare courage in just letting the characters talk in a rambling believable dialogue. I hope Linklater does this every five or ten years.
Second was **Spider Man 2**. Best superhero movie ever made.
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### Author:  [@Duderdude2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duderdude2)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/35 "2004-09-21T17:42:31Z")
Oh, and I forgot to mention Shrek 2! Another vote for it.
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### Author:  [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/36 "2004-09-21T20:34:43Z")
I haven’t seen too many in the theater, but I’d say Napolean Dynamite and Festival Express.
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### Author:  [@threeorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threeorange)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2004, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/37 "2004-09-22T10:07:36Z")
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
2. Before Sunset
3. Garden State
4. The Corporation
5. Maria Full of Grace
6. Fahrenheit 9/11
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### Author:  [@Bimble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bimble)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2004, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/38 "2004-09-22T10:30:23Z")
**Shrek 2** - after all the horrors going on in the world, it was just damn GOOD to sit in a cinema and feel free to LAUGH for an hour or so and escape from The Real World.
**iRobot** - I just love Will Smith as an actor and the film was pure easy-on-the-braincell entertainment!
🙂
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### Author:  [@My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/My_Darn_Snake_Legs)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/39 "2004-09-22T15:24:23Z")
> [@Bimble](#):
>
> **Shrek 2** - after all the horrors going on in the world, it was just damn GOOD to sit in a cinema and feel free to LAUGH for an hour or so and escape from The Real World.
>
> **iRobot** - I just love Will Smith as an actor and the film was pure easy-on-the-braincell entertainment!
>
> 🙂
Preach it Brother (and/or Sister!) Everyone talks about these independant flicks which are \ just cowboys sitting around eating yogurt and discussing their sexuality. \
I didn’t see either of those movies, but if I did I’m sure I’d like them. I actually haven’t been to a movie since Spiderman 2 and I liked that one.
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### Author:  [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-youve-seen-this-year/265047/40 "2004-09-22T15:31:22Z")
**Shaolin Soccer** not a great movie in any artistic way, but an absolutely great fun movie, with a heart warming feel and superb special effects for once not used to show people getting killed, but just winning a (admitedly very dirtily played) number of soccer matches. The humour is also spot on and the pathos of the love story just right.
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