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9: We Were Soldiers: A lot of people look at the Vietnam War as a negative event in American history, but never take the time to look at it from the soldier's perspective. We Were Soldiers takes it one step beyond, and has you look at the war from both the soldiers' and their families' views. It does it from a objective perspective, and even ends on a note that shows that, yes, we were fighting people, not monsters. Ending the movie on a note like that is an unexpected surprise, and worth noting for any other war movie.
8: Time Bandits: This is one no one would expect to enjoy after hearing the premise: a team of little people that helped God build the world steal a time machine and kidnap a kid, taking him on adventures to meet Robin Hood, Agamemnon, and the Ultimate Evil. Again, though, Terry Gilliam makes this movie work. It becomes a fun thrill ride with cameos from John Cleese and Sean Connery that make you feel for the characters, and even absorbs you into the tale. Not many movies can do that now a days!
7: The Shining (Remake): A lot of people don't like the remake, but lets face it, it was a lot closer to the book than that other crap. Yes, it was made for TV, but watch it, and tell me that it still isn't freaky. I never knew that Stephen Webber could be that scary after Wings. Then again, this is kind of out shined by the next movie...
6: Dreamcatcher: Yes, I know this movie was panned by almost every critic. But, I loved this movie anyway. Morgan Freeman as an unsuspected psychopath? Check. Damien Lewis, Thomas Jane, Jason Lee, and Timothy Olyphant as four friends that seem to have that chemistry. Check. Close to the book without spoiling it? Check. What also puts this closer to my heart is that the four friends remind me of me and my friends. I just wish "I" wasn't the first to die...
5: Ju-Rei: J-Horror for the win. Ju-Rei: The Uncanny is the prequel to the original Japanese "Grudge" series, but told in the most unusual manner possible: Backwards. By today's standards, its hard to describe it, but the build up to the origin of the Grudge works better than any American remake could ever do.
4: What Dreams May Come: Yes, I'm sort of Religious. That's why I love this movie, but not the main reason. Robin Williams plays a man whose wife killed herself a year before he died. He searches all of Heaven for her, but finds out she's in Hell. So, what else should he do other than scour Hell for her and try to bring her back? Its a movie that is both filmed and written beautifully, and worth the watch.
3: The Dark Knight: Yes, this movie is on almost every top ten list, but its that damn good. Lets get the obvious out of the way: Yes, the movie was written well, yes Ledger was awesome as the Joker, and yes Batman's voice was annoying. But, everything played out so well and so dark, that you could forget that this was a comic book movie. What other comic movie could do that? Also, extra points for not casting Katie Holmes again...
2: Watchmen: It looks like your watching the comic book in live action. The casting is near perfect (except Malin Ackerman and her wooden acting) and it looks like a work of art come to life. And to the naysayers due to Dr. Manhattan's nudity, get over yourselves, it wasn't that noticeable. In fact, its more true to the source material. The only bad thing was that the sex scene went on way to long, but with a movie like this, that's almost splitting hairs.
1: Pan's Labyrinth: This movie is beautiful, horrifying, sad, and uplifting all at once. A fairy tale for adults, Pan's Labyrinth focuses on a little girl in fascist Spain during a civil war. She's obsessed with fairy tales, to the point where she finds herself inside of one. Without spoiling the whole movie, she meets a wide array of creepy, yet beautifully done, characters, and makes a choice that will change her life forever. Sure, you have to read subtitles, but its worth it. This movie is the most amazing movie I have ever had the pleasure of watching.
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