# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/21 "2003-07-02T13:51:33Z")
I have to second **ArchiveGuy** ’s nomination of _All The Real Girls_. I went and saw this movie having heard nothing about it, and it was really great. It moves at a leisurely pace, without a really strong narrative, but it’s well acted and beautifully shot. I loved _A Mighty Wind_, although not as much as _Best in Show_. _X2_ was better than the first one, and much better than i expected it to be. A really good, fun action film. I thought _Rabbit-Proof Fence_ and _The Quiet American_ (both directed by Philip Noyce) were fantastic, but i don’t know whether or not they qualify. I saw them both at the cinema this year, but i think they may have been released earlier. ---
**Author:** ![tomyoung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@tomyoung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomyoung)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/22 "2003-07-02T14:23:12Z")
_City of God_ was absolutely thrilling. The naturalistic acting, the fabulous music, the stylish editing. Easily my favorite movie of the year; but I lived in Rio and love Brazil, so I’m a bit biased. _Russian Ark_ was very cool visually, but left me cold. The set was fantastic. 😉 _Winged Migration_ was a great followup to _Microcosmos_. The sense of flight is really breathtaking. _Ararat_ just did not do it for me. I’m very interested in the Armenian genocide, but the movie was not what I expected it would be, so it gets a bit of an unfair penalty there. Also I found the plot and dialogue to be utterly flat. All these event movies, like Matrix Reloaded and X-Men 2 and the Hulk were fun but not great, and pretty much delivered what I wanted them to. I hear the action scenes in Terminator 3 are worth seeing. I’m really waiting on Return of the King to be the daddy of them all, like everyone else. I’ve had to put off seeing _28 Days Later_ until this weekend. I’m very, very excited to see it. Zombies are my favorite horror movie genre, and everyone seems to like this one. Is no one going to put the _Cremaster_ cycle on their best list? I certainly won’t. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/23 "2003-07-02T14:52:53Z")
Is “Nowhere in Africa” considered a 2003 film? I thought it was excellent. I have to see “Winged Migration” before it leaves here. “Whalerider” may have missed the Jan-June mark, but just barely. ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/24 "2003-07-02T17:26:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomyoung \* > _Russian Ark_ was very cool visually, but left me cold. The set was fantastic. 😉 I agree. As a technical acheivement? Wonderous. As art? Well . . . maybe. As entertainment? Not so much. ---
**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, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/25 "2003-07-02T22:39:18Z")
\*\*tomyoung: > [@](#): > > _Ararat_ just did not do it for me. I’m very interested in the Armenian genocide, but the movie was not what I expected it would be, so it gets a bit of an unfair penalty there. Also I found the plot and dialogue to be utterly flat. It probably could have been more than it was, but as I’d never heard of the Armenian holocaust previously, I found it utterly fascinating. > [@](#): > > Is no one going to put the _Cremaster_ cycle on their best list? I certainly won’t. Well, I don’t think any of the films premiered in 2003, did they? **CrankyAsAnOldMan** , _Whale Rider_ came out well within the month of June, so I’d say it qualifies without fudging. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/26 "2003-07-02T22:59:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fiver \* > \*\*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. \*\* While I agree that City of God is a great film, wasn’t it released in 2002? ---
**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, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/27 "2003-07-02T23:09:40Z")
I don’t think so. I saw it in early January at a sneak preview, which means it was released sometime after that. So at least with regard to Atlanta, it’s a 2003 release. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/28 "2003-07-02T23:21:20Z")
I guess it _was_ January when I saw it. Seemed like it was earlier. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/29 "2003-07-03T04:18:47Z")
Nitpick: 28 Days Later actually came out last year in England–hell, it’s on Region 2 DVD already (but I liked it). Let’s put it this way–there’s been movies I’ve liked this year, but I think only Finding Nemo I’d consider buying on DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/30 "2003-07-03T05:59:00Z")
The best film I’ve seen so far this year (that I can tell you about) was at the Seattle film festival: _American Splendor._ It’s scheduled for a national release in August. Absolutely stunning. [Read my writeup here](http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=15506). Others on the summer list: _Finding Nemo_ – Great. “Mine. Mine. Mine.” Pixar delivers again. _Hulk_ – Amazing piece of filmmaking. Not at all what the summer audience was expecting. _Bend It Like Beckham_ and _Whale Rider_ – Big crowd-pleasers that don’t suck. 😉 The latter, especially, is quite a good film. I urge people to seek it out. _X-Men 2_ – On the way out, my wife said, “Wow, that had an actual story. Almost like a real movie.” I laughed. Kind of a back-handed compliment, but accurate. Much better than it should have been. From the OP: I was underwhelmed by _Marooned in Iraq_ and _Russian Ark._ Everybody who considers themselves a movie fan, I cannot recommend _American Splendor_ highly enough. When it comes out in August, you must, **must** , see it. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/31 "2003-07-03T06:20:22Z")
Time seems to be running together for me lately so I’m having trouble remembering which movies came out when. I’ll do what I can though… In no order. -_Gerry_ -_Holes_ -_Phone Booth_ -_28 Days Later_ -_Matrix Reloaded_ -_X2_ -_Confidence_ -_Daredevil_ -_Shanghai Knights_ -although probably won’t win an oscar, I laughed my ars off. I suppose this is more of a favorites list for me, but I’ll stick with it. My favorite is _Gerry_, no doubt. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Seeker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@The\_Seeker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Seeker)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/32 "2003-07-03T09:39:12Z")
I’m not sure if it came out very late last year or early this year but I’ll include it anyway. About Schmidt was a brilliant film. Jack Nicholson was just superb at playing his age and Kathy Bates was great as usual. ---
**Author:** ![DrNick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DrNick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrNick)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/33 "2003-07-03T10:25:34Z")
City of God Punch-Drunk Love Spirited Away (I’m sure it came out yonks ago in Japan, but it’s pretty new here) All great. Honourable mentions to About Schmidt, X2 and Matrix 2. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/34 "2003-07-03T13:57:09Z")
I haven’t heard of any of the OP’s films either. Even though it technically came out last year, I thought _Chicago_ was the best film I’ve seen this year. _Gangs of New York_ was also awesome. I’ve also loved _The Matrix Reloaded_, _X-2_, _Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle_, and I’m sure I’m forgetting some. I thought _28 Days Later_ was a good film, too. Some of the others that I haven’t seen like _Phone Booth_, I’ll either purchase or rent through Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/35 "2003-07-03T17:47:31Z")
So no one saw T3 yet? It did more than exceed expectations. Better than X2, Matrix Reloaded, Terminator AND T2. And best movie so far this year. Though I haven’t seen some of the others listed in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Another\_Stranger\_Me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@Another\_Stranger\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Another_Stranger_Me)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/36 "2003-07-03T19:07:26Z")
I agree with the “big 3” it seems: _The Matrix: Reloaded_ _Finding Nemo_ and _X-2_ If I had to pick a movie that I was most pleasantly surprised with this year, it would be _The Italian Job_. It was the best heist/double-cross movie in a long time, it was funny and serious at the right times, and the cast was great without stepping all over each other. Oh, and one other thing… I can’t believe I saw _Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle_ in this thread. I would easily place it first on my list of worst movies since _Battlefield Earth_. ---
**Author:** ![raizok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4491bb/32.png) [@raizok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raizok)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/37 "2003-07-03T19:14:32Z")
**X2 Finding Nemo** I see wayyyyyyyyy too many movies and those two are undenialably the most appropiate films to masturbate to if you’re a film geek. Er… Haven’t seen City of God yet though, I imagine that would make my list too. ---
**Author:** ![CyberPundit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@CyberPundit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyberPundit)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/38 "2003-07-03T20:51:51Z")
The two best films I have seen so far this year are Russian Ark and Finding Nemo. X2 was pretty good but Matrix Reloaded was mediocre at best. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/39 "2003-07-03T21:27:37Z")
I really enjoyed _ **Identity** _, although the ending was a little cheesy. Plus I just love Amanda Peet in anything. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439/40 "2003-07-03T21:38:39Z")
_About Schmidt_ was up for 2002 Oscar nominations, so I’d imagine that it doesn’t count. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halfway-through-2003-best-movies-so-far-this-year/185439.md?page=3)