What are your favorite films of the decade?

American films:

The Lord of the Rings (as one
extended film, three parts)
The Dark Knight
Brokeback Mountain
The Pianist
Star Trek
Minority Report
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Gosford Park
Chicago

Since there are some still to be released through 2009 including "Nine" and "Up in the Air" (showing in limited release), this is a preliminary list.

i have real mixed feelings about the dark night

i'd give batman beyond my choice for an entire film, where as, after a few viewings, i really only like the dark night when the joker is on screen

Whale Rider
District 13
Hank Williams First Nation

The only major disagreement I have with your list is with Donnie Darko and I haven't seen either Whale Rider or Hank Williams First Nation. You've got a intelligent eye for cinema djjd!

The list is weighted towards entertainment -- The Dark Knight trumps all the superhero movies. "Nine" could possibly push it out (the list isn't in a scoring order). There's also favoritism towards sci-fi and fantasy as I get more connected to those films (I was highly involved in sci-fi fandom during high school and college days).

Foreign films would start of with "Spirited Away," "Pan's Labyrinth," and "E Tu Mama Tambien." Haven't taken the time yet to formulate a top ten and insert the foreign films into a list of all films. The decade, however, should be January 1, 2000 to December 31st 2010. I have a feeling that Michael Phillips and A. O. Scott on At the Movies are announcing their last three of the decade in the next three weeks as they might be including one of those films they've previewed but haven't yet reviewed. "Nine" is, of course, the Tony Award winning Broadway musical based on Fellini's "8-12" which shows up so often on world-wide critic's top ten list. It's Rob Murrow who directed "Chicago" and that film I'm thinking back to the theatrical release when the audience actually applauded musical numbers (including "Cellophane Man") like they were at a live performance.

Quite true! The only superhero movie to challenge it in my eyes is its peer and same year competitor Iron Man.

I tried to stay up beat about the prospects of Nine even though I didn't like Chicago one bit at all. But I'm souring on Nine after seeing/hearing the several trailers out there. Looks spectacular ... I'm just not thrilled about the actual songs themselves (the skeleton and the meat of the movie).

wow, i found batman to be cringe worthy in the dark knight, i couldn't get past his disguise voice, which i didn't think was as laughable in the first film

"Iron Man's" story kept it out of my top ten, but there are some films that had serious messages that would make a list of most intellectually stimulating but difficult to absorb (even though I find learning new things to be entertaining). "Letters from Iwo Jima" would be one. "Invictus" (can Clint Eastwood ever burn out?) may be another. "Chicago" really has to be seen in a theater on a larger-than-life screen as it is cinematic while keeping the audience connection that it's actually happening on a stage (hey, in real life, people don't break out in song at crucial points). Although "Cabaret" is a better score and would be on my top ten musicals ever made, it's so cinematic that the fun of the stage performance is slighted.

Christian Bale was the biggest flaw of the whole movie. But I found the flow, the story, Ledger's iconic performance, the film's score and cinematography enough to overlook that acting flaw.

i used to see a lot more "movie" movies in my youth

an art house cinema in toronto used to show some great double bills, one of my faves being Fellini's 81/2 followed by Woody's Stardust Memories

and one of my best movie going experiences was a late 80's Woody allen retrospective that was screened, in a really small little theatre, over a months time

in the last few years my tastes have become more fantasy/action, especially asian horror

the list of films i've not seen would probably shock most people

The disguise voice did become rather tiresome, even though one knows it's because he doesn't want to reveal who he is. Except no actor has made Batman into the real Dark Knight except Bale. It literally ripped itself out of the comic book genre and into a more serious sci-fi film.

Heath just simply upstaged everyone in the film and it looked to me like he knew he was doing it and so did the director. It made his evil purpose even more insurmountable for Batman. But I thought the entire cast was so good, it did make it difficult for Bale's performance even outside the costume to seem focused. Aaron Eckhart also turned in a bravura performance and made the change to Two Face seem real.

I'm not musical averse ...
My favorite top 10 musicals...
1. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) (my vote 10/10)
2. A Prairie Home Companion (2006) (my vote 10/10)
3. South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999) (my vote 10/10)
4. 8 femmes (2002) (my vote 10/10)
5. Le million (1931) (my vote 10/10)
6. Fiddler on the Roof (1971) (my vote 9/10)
7. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) (my vote 9/10)
8. Dancer in the Dark (2000) (my vote 9/10)
9. Labyrinth (1986) (my vote 9/10)
10. James and the Giant Peach (1996) (my vote 9/10)
Tied with Everyone Says I Love You (1996) (my vote 9/10)

No acknowledgement of quality or artistic merit is expressed or implied.
Just movies I liked.

Lord of the Rings (series)
Harry Potter (series)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
The Departed
Gangs of New York
Shrek
Memento
Oh Brother, Where Art Thou
Good Night and Good Luck
Kill Bill (series)
The Bourne Identity

Well, mine changes each year as I perhaps have re-seen a film I hadn't seen for a long time.

Film musicals only (not Broadway adaptations)

Singin' in the Rain
The Bandwagon
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
The Wizard of Oz
Good News
Moulin Rouge
42nd Street
Strike Up the Band
Gigi
A Star is Born

here's the winners and nominees for the last 20 years academy awards
* film i've seen

1980 Ordinary People
Coal Miner's Daughter *
The Elephant Man *
Raging Bull *
Tess

1981 Chariots of Fire
Atlantic City
On Golden Pond *
Raiders of the Lost Ark *
Reds * (fell asleep about half way through)

1982 Gandhi *
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial *
Missing *
Tootsie *
The Verdict

1983 Terms of Endearment
The Big Chill
The Dresser
The Right Stuff *
Tender Mercies

1984 Amadeus *
The Killing Fields *
A Passage to India
Places in the Heart
A Soldier's Story

1985 Out of Africa
The Color Purple
Kiss of the Spider Woman *
Prizzi's Honor
Witness *

1986 Platoon
Children of a Lesser God
Hannah and Her Sisters *
The Mission
A Room with a View

1987 The Last Emperor
Broadcast News
Fatal Attraction
Hope and Glory *
Moonstruck

1988 Rain Man *
The Accidental Tourist
Dangerous Liaisons
Mississippi Burning
Working Girl

1989 Driving Miss Daisy *
Born on the Fourth of July
Dead Poets Society
Field of Dreams *
My Left Foot

1990 Dances with Wolves
Awakenings - Columbia
Ghost - Paramount
The Godfather Part III
Goodfellas

1991 The Silence of the Lambs *
Beauty and the Beast *
Bugsy
JFK
The Prince of Tides

1992 Unforgiven *
The Crying Game
A Few Good Men
Howards End
Scent of a Woman

1993 Schindler's List
The Fugitive
In the Name of the Father
The Piano - Miramax
The Remains of the Day -

1994 Forrest Gump *
Four Weddings and a Funeral (not sure i've seen the whole film)
Pulp Fiction *
Quiz Show
The Shawshank Redemption (read the book)

1995 Braveheart
Apollo 13
Babe *
Il Postino
Sense and Sensibility

1996 The English Patient
Fargo *
Jerry Maguire
Secrets & Lies
Shine

1997 Titanic
As Good as It Gets
The Full Monty (have the dvd, must watch it one of these days)
Good Will Hunting
L.A. Confidential

1998 Shakespeare in Love
Elizabeth
Life Is Beautiful
Saving Private Ryan
The Thin Red Line

1999 American Beauty *
The Cider House Rules (read the book)
The Green Mile (read the book)
The Insider
The Sixth Sense *

2000 Gladiator
Chocolat *
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon *
Erin Brockovich
Traffic

2001 A Beautiful Mind
Gosford Park
In the Bedroom
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring *
Moulin Rouge!

2002 Chicago
Gangs of New York *
The Hours
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers *
The Pianist

2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King *
Lost in Translation
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Mystic River
Seabiscuit

2004 Million Dollar Baby
The Aviator
Finding Neverland *
Ray
Sideways

2005 Crash
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Munich

2006 The Departed (i've seen all three of the asian originals)
Babel
Letters from Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine (have the dvd, must watch sometime)
The Queen

2007 No Country for Old Men *
Atonement
Juno *
Michael Clayton
There Will Be Blood

2008 Slumdog Millionaire
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader

The Bourne Trilogy
Liam
Ichi the Killer

I really wanted WHALE RIDER To be excellent. I was disappointed over its "home movie" quality.

interesting, i think that's why i liked it

here's the winners and nominees for the last 20 years academy awards
* film i've seen

This is a good exercise du cinematique!

1980 Ordinary People
Coal Miner's Daughter
The Elephant Man
Raging Bull
Tess

1981 Chariots of Fire
Atlantic City
On Golden Pond*
Raiders of the Lost Ark* [All cinematic privileges will be revoked for anyone who hasn't seen this film and is at least 15 years old!]
Reds

1982 Gandhi*
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial*
Missing
Tootsie*
The Verdict*

1983 Terms of Endearment*
The Big Chill
The Dresser
The Right Stuff*
Tender Mercies

1984 Amadeus*
The Killing Fields*
A Passage to India [I can't remember if I've seen this film or not....]
Places in the Heart
A Soldier's Story

1985 Out of Africa*
The Color Purple*
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Prizzi's Honor*
Witness*

1986 Platoon*
Children of a Lesser God*
Hannah and Her Sisters *
The Mission
A Room with a View

1987 The Last Emperor* [A very grand epic! Beautiful and haunting!]
Broadcast News*
Fatal Attraction*
Hope and Glory*
Moonstruck*

1988 Rain Man*
The Accidental Tourist
Dangerous Liaisons
Mississippi Burning
Working Girl*

1989 Driving Miss Daisy *
Born on the Fourth of July*
Dead Poets Society*
Field of Dreams*
My Left Foot*

1990 Dances with Wolves* [ZZZZZZZzzzZZZZZz <<snore>> zzz]
Awakenings - Columbia*
Ghost - Paramount*
The Godfather Part III
Goodfellas* [TSK TSK! ]

1991 The Silence of the Lambs*
Beauty and the Beast*
Bugsy* [ ]
JFK*
The Prince of Tides

1992 Unforgiven*
The Crying Game*
A Few Good Men* [GASP! How could you miss such an iconic performance by Jack Nicholson?!]
Howards End
Scent of a Woman*

1993 Schindler's List*
The Fugitive*
In the Name of the Father*
The Piano - Miramax*
The Remains of the Day* [ Anthony Hopkin's most sublime performance ever! A must see film for film lovers!]

1994 Forrest Gump*
Four Weddings and a Funeral*
Pulp Fiction*
Quiz Show*
The Shawshank Redemption*

1995 Braveheart*
Apollo 13* [zZZZZZZZZZZZZZzZZZZZZZZZz]
Babe*
Il Postino
Sense and Sensibility

1996 The English Patient
Fargo* If you didn't see Fargo, I do everything in my power to get you deported from North America! Consider yourself lucky!]
Jerry Maguire*
Secrets & Lies
Shine*

1997 Titanic* Take pride for missing this well crafted/researched stinker of a blockbuster film.
As Good as It Gets*
The Full Monty*
Good Will Hunting*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-yslBFoOBk
L.A. Confidential* [For shame! <<sniffle>> you're breaking my heart djjd! Breaking my heart!]

1998 Shakespeare in Love*
Elizabeth*
Life Is Beautiful*
Saving Private Ryan* The first half hour in the theater gave me the worst case of motion sickness I have ever experienced.
The Thin Red Line*

1999 American Beauty*
The Cider House Rules
The Green Mile*
The Insider*
The Sixth Sense*

2000 Gladiator*
Chocolat*
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon *
Erin Brockovich*
Traffic*

2001 A Beautiful Mind* [<<YAAWN>>]
Gosford Park* This class based English mystery is tops!
In the Bedroom*
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring*
Moulin Rouge!*

2002 Chicago*
Gangs of New York*
The Hours
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers*
The Pianist*

2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King *
Lost in Translation* [THE BEST DEPICTION OF ENNUI THAT I'VE SEEN]
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World*
Mystic River*
Seabiscuit*

2004 Million Dollar Baby* [ANOTHER OVERRATED STINKER]
The Aviator
Finding Neverland
Ray
Sideways*
For shame djjd! For shame!
2005 Crash* [WORST BEST PICTURE EVER!!!]
Brokeback Mountain
Capote*
Good Night, and Good Luck.*
Munich* One of the most underrated Spielberg films.

2006 The Departed*
Babel
Letters from Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine*
The Queen*

2007 No Country for Old Men *
Atonement
Juno*
Michael Clayton*
There Will Be Blood*

2008 Slumdog Millionaire*
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*
Frost/Nixon*
Milk*
The Reader*