Film Faves 2003

 

Finding Nemo – Even when Pixar puts out a film that I consider one of its lesser works, like Finding Nemo, it still seems to end up on my list of favorites for the year.  This film sits at the bottom of the Pixar list for me (along with A Bug’s Life), but that doesn’t stop it from being a wonderfully moving and visually amazing film.  Ellen DeGeneres’s “Dory” is the most entertaining character in any film this year.  Pixar has yet to make a film that I don’t like, and I hope that streak doesn’t end with Cars.

Love Actually – If Robert Altman were a happier, more romantic filmmaker, this is the movie that Short Cuts would have been (no offense, Mr. Altman.  I loved Short Cuts).  It may not reflect reality, but it reflects what we wish were reality when it comes to love and romance.  It’s one of the most moving romantic comedies in years and it gets better for me with each subsequent viewing.  Hugh Grant’s impromptu celebration dance through 10 Downing Street is the funniest scene of the year.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – My favorite film of 2003.  There are one or two films each decade that, for me, are truly great films and belong in a category all their own.  This decade has one so far, and it’s this film.   I hope Peter Weir and company keep working their way through the O'Brian novels.  If you're a sci-fi fan and have doubts about seeing this movie, let me add this;  it's one the best Star Trek films I've ever seen.

The Matrix Reloaded – I liked The Matrix when I saw it in 1999, but it was The Matrix Reloaded that made me a fan of the series.  Great fights, great action, great effects, great use of big words and a GREATLY frustrating  ending makes this movie a winner for me.  The scene where The Architect confuses the hell out of Neo (and the “I Know Kung-Fu”-loving  members of the  audience) was my favorite scene in any film of 2003.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines – I know this is going to make a lot of people shake their heads in disbelief, but T3 is my favorite Terminator film.  I know, I know, T2 was groundbreaking and amazing and I love that film as well.  But for me, T3 is the best of the lot because of its story, its romance, its amazing effects and action sequences and more than any of that, I love the way they ended the film and managed to explain (in a logical yet twisty way) how John Conner could come to be the world’s savior.

NOTE:  Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl narrowly loses out on a spot in the Film Faves 2003 list.  But I just couldn’t choose another film to bump.  If I were doing lists of six, Pirates would definitely be here.  It’s my favorite adventure film since 1998’s The Mask of Zorro.  I can’t wait to see Pirates 2 and 3.

-Otis

Previous Film Fave Entries:

• 2004
• 2005

Comments

[Grant Gould]

**Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – My favorite film of 2003. There are one or two films each decade that, for me, are truly great films and belong in a category all their own. This decade has one so far, and it’s this film. I hope Peter Weir and company keep working their way through the O'Brian novels.**

YES!!! I completely agree with you. Totally agree. :)