My Favorite Movies

A sequel that lives up the hype and surpasses the original. With only introductions necessary to a few new characters, the story dives into heavy themes and stories, adapting some from the comic books expertly. One of the best sequels ever.

Great start to the venerable franchise. Matt Damon ain't no Streisand.

My choice for best film of 2005. Visually stunning, richly written and amazingly acted. Still, Mickey Rourke is who this movie not only belongs to, but he IS this movie.

Set the standard for all comic book movies today. Tim Burton gave us what Batman is: dark. Michael Keaton dispensed the naysayers by solidifying his status as the true caped crusader. Oh, and Jack Nicholson as the Joker='nuff said.

Brilliant, darker and grotesque follow-up tot he great first movie. Burton does it again and Keaton delivers, too. Plus, Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman is a yummy casting decision, and Danny DeVito as the Penguin is terrific. Beautiful set design and cinematography--and Christopher Walken!

One of 2005's best also revitalized the fledging franchise by actually using several Frank Miller (the man whose "The Dark Knight Returns" reportedly inspired Tim Burton's original) stories and getting rid of the TV show-type quality of the last two sequels. Christian Bale was an ideal choice for the role of the caped crusader.

My #2 film for 2004 (behind Kill Bill: Volume 2) is also one of my all-time favorite movies. Director, writer and star Zach Braff delivers a poignant film that is funny, heartfelt and emotional. Peter Sarsgaard and Ian Holm also give great supporting performances, but it is Natalie Portman's that charmed the hell out of me and made me adore her--and her outstanding work here--even more.

This movie changed my life, literally, forever.

The best film of 2002. DiCaprio and Diaz give good performances, but this film is owned by Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill the Butcher--even if Martin Scorsese did a great job.

One of the wittiest, sharpest comedies of the past 20 years. Clever and, at times, sharp-tongued, John Travolta is great as loan shark-turned-movie producer Chili Palmer.

One of the single funniest things ever (among books, movies, TV, etc. combined!)

So silly and stupid yet it never gets lost in that craziness by delivering laughs s hard and so genuine, you won't have time to think about getting the joke you just heard--because they're already on the 3rd or 4th one after that one already

One of the single funniest things ever (among books, movies, TV, etc. combined!)

One of the single funniest things ever (among books, movies, TV, etc. combined!)

Not as perfect as Blazing Saddles or Young Frankenstein, but still proves the genius of one Mel Brooks.

One of the all-time crowd pleasers. both critically and film fan approved. Morgan Freeman is stellar and.. well, if you've not seen it you're an idiot. So go buy (not rent) the 2-disc S.E. DVD from a few years ago. This film is worth every penny--and more.

One of the best films of 2005 and a true showcase for Daniel Craig. Taught and suspenseful, funny and thrilling, this is the new modern gangster film classic.

I was shocked and amazed how funny and sweet this movie was. I had no I idea what I was missing--and too bad I never got into Chris Farley. He was funny...

Hilarious. Repeat watchings get better.

Director Len Wiseman certainly knows how to film an action movie. While purists will feel that the movie should be rated R--me included--because our John McClane curse... a lot. More than most people. But this is certainly one great entry into the series. Bruce Willis has still got, so yipee ki-yay, mofos.

A great chapter one movie that introduces a bevy of characters without taking away from the actual plot. All-around great casting and script.

Genius and satirical, this tears the Mouse Co. to pieces. Clever gags and casting make this one of the best of 2001.

One of 2006's best is also one of Scorsese's best as well. Each character pounds the screen, viscerally embedding themselves into your subconscious. Nicholson, Damon, DiCaprio and Farmiga are all terrific, but it is Wahlberg who vibrantly stands out among the great ensemble.

All that and Scorsese's Oscar.

The best film of 2006. Heroic and respectful, director Paul Greengrass puts you in the middle of that tragic yet fateful day, playing it as if it is unfolding live before your eyes. You can even cheer and hope the passengers retake the plane--until reality sets in and you realize what happens. A powerful, superb piece of cinema.

I saw this for the first time about 6 months ago and have since watched it at least 5 more times. Its brilliant, funny, moving and it continues to get richer after repeat viewings.

I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved this. Frank Miller is god.

The second one was better but this started it all.

I didn't quite understand what they were aiming for but after 3/4 of talking and only 20 minutes of loud action, I got it: they perfected what Michael Bay and Tony Scott do. While I still prefer Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz still is great.

One of the craziest, looniest movies ever. Still, its funny--no, hilarious. Jeff Bridges is terrific as the Dude, and John Goodman and Steve Buscemi are grand as his friends. Like so many of the great comedies--such as Monty Python & the Holy Grail, Airplane and Blazing Saddles--The Big Lebowski is endlessly quotable. Trippy yet delightful.

I've seen it already. I'm one of the 17 out of 6 billion people in this world who actually liked the second one. But I like this a little better than 'Twelve.'

104,032 stars out of four, actually

One of the most visionary pieces of cinema ever created. Ridley Scott and Harrison Ford create one of the most influential films ever, sci-fi or not. Rutger Hauer dissolves the screen as one of the best screen villains ever. I cannot wait for the theeatrical reissue and DVD release of Scott's final cut. One of the greatest ever.

Terrific, funny and heart-warming movie. Great ensemble cast, anchored by the always-great Nicholson.

It starts with a bang and the clip never goes empty. Logic is turned into swiss cheese with the many guns that populate this movie. Clive Owen is sarcastic and has great dry humor. Paul Giamatti is devilishly chewing up the scenery and having a blast doing so. Plus, Monica Bellucci. And you get one big 100% surreal thrill ride that is a total blast of fun.

One of the funniest movies ever made. Classic duo Abbott & Costello knock one out of the park with wit, pratfalls and just plain fun. Bringing together all the classic monsters and the respective actors who played them--Bela Lugosi as Dracula, Glenn Strange as the Frankenstein monster and Lon Chaney, Jr. as the Wolfman--was ingenious and a great last hurrah for them. The original horror comedy is one of the best ever. Great memorable lines (most notably, after Chaney says he turns into a wolf after the moon rises, Costello says, "You and 20 million other guys.") and the cast's interaction with each other makes this timeless and unforgettable.

Best film of 2007

One of the best films of the 90s, a perfect mold of old-style film noir while reinventing that classic genre. The ensemble cast is nothing short of exceptional: Kevin Spacey exudes eloquent charm, Guy Pierce is expert in his portrayal of a straight-laced, star police officer faced with choices and James Cromwell as the hard-nosed, rule bending police captain. Undoubtedly, though, all the attention is placed upon Kim Basinger for her Supporting Actress Oscar-winning role--and she is superb. But let's not forget a yet unknown Russell Crowe is what I consider to be his best performance to date. Curtis Hanson does a bang-up job adapting the intricately woven, nearly unfilmable novel by James Ellroy.