# Halfway through 2003--Best Movies so far this year? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439 "2003-06-30T22:12:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/1 "2003-06-30T22:12:57Z")
So, we’re halfway through the year–what are the best movies you’ve seen that had their general release in 2003? My Top 10 thus far: 1. _All the Real Girls_ 2. _Marooned in Iraq_ 3. _Russian Ark_ 4. _Gerry_ 5. _Holes_ 6. _The Man on the Train_ 7. _Down With Love_ 8. _Raising Victor Vargas_ 9. _Winged Migration_ 10. _Dracula: Pages from a Virgin’s Diary_ Honorable Mention: _A Mighty Wind_ There are only a few films I really wish I’d seen this year that I’ve missed thus far (_The Son_ and _Better Luck Tomorrow_ are at the top of the list), and I’ve seen most of the major summer releases but didn’t bother with several other Big Movies (_Anger Management, Bruce Almighty, Daredevil_) I knew I probably wouldn’t like. So, what have you seen that’s stood out this year for you thus far? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/2 "2003-06-30T23:05:56Z")
1. Matrix Reloaded 2. X2 I did see Two Towers one time this year, but it came out last year. It surpassed both of those movies. Everything else has been less than perfect. Actually, only Matrix Reloaded fulfilled expectations in my mind. Hulk was good, but flawed. I tend to doubt either T3 or LXG will meet expectations. This year is a let down overall so far. Then again, we still have Revolutions and Return of the King. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/3 "2003-06-30T23:22:34Z")
X Men 2 Matrix Reloaded Finding Nemo Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Tears of the Sun ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/4 "2003-06-30T23:22:56Z")
I would nominate 28 Days Later as a truly exceptional genre film. We know it isn’t going to get recognition from traditional awards shows, but it is an excellent film in its genre. I haven’t seen Better Luck Tomorrow either, but I can’t wait until it comes out on video. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/5 "2003-07-01T02:17:57Z")
Well, its gotta be the Matrix Reloaded, yo! Saw it the day it came out like a lil nerd, and it really did surpass everything else ---
**Author:** ![Berserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Berserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berserker)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/6 "2003-07-01T03:49:32Z")
X-Men 2 Matrix Reloaded Willard 28 Days Later ---
**Author:** ![Tarrsk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@Tarrsk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarrsk)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/7 "2003-07-01T03:51:09Z")
X2 Finding Nemo I enjoyed a lot of other films (including The Hulk), but those two stood out, the former as the most sublimely entertaining popcorn flick in ages, and the latter… well, let’s just say that it’s vying with Toy Story for “#1 Pixar Movie” in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![WortMeWorry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@WortMeWorry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WortMeWorry)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/8 "2003-07-01T03:58:24Z")
Finding Nemo. My favorite bit, the seagulls. That’s just the way I picture them. Plus, I’ve been calling them, " Flying Rats ", since the great Cedar Point Disaster of 1983. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/9 "2003-07-01T22:06:23Z")
**Finding Nemo.** I don’t need anything else. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lilbtagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@lilbtagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilbtagna)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/10 "2003-07-01T22:45:41Z")
**X2** is the best movie I’ve seen this year so far that came out this year. I haven’t gotten around to seeing **Finding Nemo** yet, but I definitely will. Don’t want to pass up on a Pixar movie 🙂 I was actually really disappointed with **The Matrix Reloaded**. It wasn’t nearly as good as the first movie, and it failed to meet almost all of my expectations. Of course, I’m getting more excited as each day passes while waiting for **The Return of the King** to come out 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/11 "2003-07-02T01:18:20Z")
I haven’t seen very many movies at all this year, so X2 wins by default. Haven’t seen Finding Nemo yet though, so I might change my mind. Apparentily, I’m the first hillbilly to wander into this thread who not only hasn’t seen ANY of the movies listed in the OP, but who hasn’t even heard of 60% of them. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/12 "2003-07-02T01:26:34Z")
The best? Winged Migration Better Luck Tomorrow Finding Nemo Down With Love Honorable Mentions: 28 Days Later The Hulk The Eye ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/13 "2003-07-02T01:48:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\ ***Finding Nemo.** > > I don’t need anything else. 😉 \*\* My thoughts exactly! That’s the only movie I’ve seen on the big screen this year (yes, I do need to get out more) Thank God my mother took them to see the Rugrats movie. I don’t think I could have sat through that without experiencing severe brain damage. Nemo rocks…and now we’ll just wait for the The Untouchables, which premieres in late 2004. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/14 "2003-07-02T01:56:43Z")
I’ve only seen three new-release movies this year. So: 1. Finding Nemo 2. X-Men 2 3. Matrix Reloaded ---
**Author:** ![sotally\_tober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@sotally\_tober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sotally_tober)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/15 "2003-07-02T02:21:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sealemon88 \* > \*\*I haven’t seen very many movies at all this year, so X2 wins by default. Haven’t seen Finding Nemo yet though, so I might change my mind. > > Apparentily, I’m the first hillbilly to wander into this thread who not only hasn’t seen ANY of the movies listed in the OP, but who hasn’t even heard of 60% of them. \*\* Ok i think i just surpassed you. I must confess i haven’t even heard of ANY one of the movies in the OP. The best this year? X2 easily. Matrix comes a distant second (i was disappointed with it too). That said, i am looking foward to watching Nemo and probably will watch Charlie’s Angels. ---
**Author:** ![meara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@meara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meara)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/16 "2003-07-02T02:34:49Z")
How about “Bend it like Beckham”. Though I’m usually more in the Matrix/XMen/LotR crowd, I thought it was wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/17 "2003-07-02T02:53:37Z")
I’ve seen 43 movies so far this year, and the ten below were the best of the feature-length ones: 1. \*Rabbit-Proof Fence 2. \*City of God 3. _Russian Ark_ 4. _Ararat_ 5. _Spider_ 6. _Bend It Like Beckham_ 7. _X2: X-Men United_ 8. _Spellbound_ 9. _Whale Rider_ 10. _Capturing the Friedmans_ That list is not ranked. If I were to rank them _City of God_ would easily be number 1, followed closely by _Spellbound._ I can’t remember when I’ve seen a better film than _City of God._ It’s truly superior. ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/18 "2003-07-02T05:12:43Z")
X2 28 Days Later Matrix Reloaded Finding Nemo Down With Love Don’t think anything will come close to topping X2 for me until Return of the King. Of course, there is Freddy Vs. Jason… ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/19 "2003-07-02T12:43:11Z")
**Finding Nemo** - we’re going back to see it again tonite! **A Mighty Wind** - a movie that just kept us happy all the way through. I’m expecting **Return of the King** and possibly **Pirates of the Carribean** to make that list, but I’ll have to wait. We’ll probably se **T3** soon, but it’ll just be eye candy, not a great movie. ---
**Author:** ![sirtonyh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sirtonyh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sirtonyh)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/20 "2003-07-02T13:25:11Z")
I’ve only seen 4 movies this year but the best was definitely X-Men2, followed by 2 Fast 2 Furious (stupid, but fun anyway). Bruce Almightly was OK but the Matrix: Reloaded was a pile of horse manure. I’ve never, ever walked out of a movie theatre but I was so bored by Matrix 2 that I almost got up and left. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439.md?page=2)