Want to know what I do when I'm not working or in another country...rent DVD's...Each of these movies I thought were good enough to buy. If you're looking for movies with explosions, predictable action, crappy dialogue and comedy formats done a million times...don't look here.

Here it is:

1. Return of the King: After seeing this movie again, I had to really sit and think where this movie ranks with the best movies of all time and I decided that this movie is the best film ever made. Yes, better than the Godfather, Pulp Fiction, Star Wars, Saving Private Ryan, etc. It has everything that movies were meant to have. The story and dialogue are as engaging as the unreal visual experience. The characters are rich, the story multi-layered and the cinematography perfect. That doesn't even go into explaining that it is the most detailed film ever made. I suggest renting the extended versions of the first two movies to give you a better grasp of how unbelievable this movie is. The documentaries that show how the movies were made will make you rethink how superb this series really was...and this is coming from someone who has never liked the Fantasy format or Dungeons and Dragons...a perfect movie.

2. Kill Bill: This was Quentin Tarantino's wink and nod to the creative filmakers that inspired him in the past. Spaghetti Westerns, 70's Hong Kong Cinema, Blaxploitation movies and 60's French film noire all rolled into one. The final fight scene with Uma Thurman and Oren Ishii is one of the most beautifully shot fight sequences ever. The Anime sequences, black and white scenes and black light camera work were stunning.

3. City of God: It's funny how I used to think that Scarface was the pinnacle of gangster violence for filmmaking. That movie is like a Disney movie compared to this flick. Portuguese director Fernando Meirrelles takes a true story and makes it seems as though you are watching true documentary clips. Shocking scenes of young boys whom are more ruthless than any gangsters in the U.S. The slums of Rio were brilliantly shot and gives the cinematic scope of 20-30 different eyes watching the same film. Story of a young aspiring photographer in the favellas of Rio and how the gangs developed in the 60's and 70's. The documentary in the DVD package is also superb and gives a good backdrop to this masterpiece.

4. In America: Story of an Irish immigrant family in New York and the struggles of coping with a lost child and a new land. The two daughters in the movie should have both been given the nod at the Academy. One of the most enriching emotional and thought provoking films of the year, along with some heart-wrenching themes about death....and more importantly...life.

5. Last Samurai: Many people wrote this movie off as one with shallow dialogue and an unrealistic story but I thought the movie was brilliant. The movie was about loyalty to yourself and to those who are in your support system. Once you strip away all your material possessions, the heart and soul of a man comes to the surface. Ken Watanabi does a superb job in portraying the master samarai to Tom Cruise. Tom Cruise has developed into an underrated actor whom consumes every role given to him. The cinematography and costume design are flawless. My only criticism is that the Emperor was made out to be a lith polesmoker and it took away from the storyline.

6.Mystic River: Clint Eastwood has developed into one of the best directors in our time...rarely makes a bad movie. Sean Penn's Oscar performance is complex and deep. Nearly every supporting actor in this suspense thriller is spot on brilliant. Tim Robbins supporting role gives me a new found respect for his versatility. The story has twists and turns but doesn't fall into the predictable cliche's of suspense thrillers...

7. Fog of War: The only documentary in this group but one of the best documentaries ever made. This is a story of Robert MacNamara and his involvement as a Cabinet member to Kennedy and LBJ during the Vietnam War and Cuban Missile Crisis. Some hair-raising audio tapes surface in this movie that make you rethink the entire foreign policy of the U.S. during the 60's. There are 11 lessons of war in the movie that go to the heart of what makes a good leader in the modern era.

8. Master and Commander: I wanted to hate this movie so much but the movie suprised me in so many ways. First off, the movie has very little action sequences as expected from the trailers. The movie is more about leadership, friendship, loyalty and the pursuit of knowledge more than anything else. An amazing ensemble cast gives serious depth to a movie that could have been an atypical period piece but was much more...

9. Big Fish: This is the one movie that you should rent if your are with your wife or s/o. Sure it's somewhat sappy and emotional but Tim Burton's art direction and story make this one of the great love stories ever. Albert Finney and Billy Crudup are superb. The movie is about trust and hope for humanity and a salute to those who always see the glass half full.

10. Raising Victor Vargas: An amazing first film for director Peter Sollett. Set in current day Spanish Harlem, the film has a simple story but it's refreshing to see a solid story without all of the special effects and typical plot development. Another film that plays like a documentary due to the director's use of long panning shots and creative editing.

Thanks for the list Blazers. I am gonna have to check out City of God

Personally, I would add:

Ghost Dog: The code of the samurai brought to the projects. Saw five minutes on cable, got in my car, went to the store and BOUGHT the damn thing!!

The City of Lost Children: This is ONE FUCKING WEIRD FILM!! This movie is about... well, you gotta just see it. There's no other way to put it. I caught this flick one day up in LA and have been hunting for it ever since...

Your Friends and Neighbors: Take people that THOUGHT they knew what they wanted - then run this idea WAY out!! Jason Patric's character is NOT for the faint of heart.

Ghost in the Shell: Makes one hell of an interesting story - even more interesting when you have to keep reminding yourself the show is animated. This and Princess Mononoke are GREAT examples of Anime.

Old School: I've seen this flick on cable about 100 times and I STILL watch it!! Frank the Tank is worth the price of the rental...

E

Let me add:

"We Were Soldiers Once"
Even if you saw it at the theatre, it's worth renting just for the scenes they edited out. It pisses me off they cut out those scenes because they are really good.

"Spririted Away"
It's suppose to be a kid's movie, but the weirdness of the story can best be appreciated by an adult. The animation and the soundtrack are stunning. Try to get the orginal Japanese version with subtitles.

"Roger and Me"
Find out how Michael Moore got so pissed off with big business. A terrific documentary but a bit tough to find.

You guys are mentioning older movies...I was only mentioning newer releases from movies in the the theater last year...For older movies I could mention about 2-300 others.

Blazers

I'm sorry - spending most of my time with the brown bunnies last year. I don't remember seeing ANY of the movies you mentioned playing at MBK...

E

I think the only sleep I got the whole month of July last year was in the movies my brilliant dates in Asia selected: Lara Croft Tomb Snore, Dumb and Dumberer, Bad Boys2, Terminator 3. BAD fuckin' movies.

Kill Bill bored the piss out of me too. Of course I'm biased, as I HATE the genre, but Tarantino should stick to stick to his specialty -- dialogue.

Oh, and I thought Passion of Christ sucked.