Best movies of 2002?

When I actually sit down and crunch the numbers, I’ve probably only hit the movie theater three times in my life—and honestly, only two of those weren't a total waste of time: *Lord of the Rings* and *Minority Report*.

Robert Cooper41 said:

.. and naturally: Santiago Segura: "Torrente 2: Mission in Miami"

😁 😁

Oh yes, I watched the sequel, and frankly, I found it somewhat underwhelming. It isn't bad, certainly not, but I find myself missing that gritty, raw texture from the first one; everything feels too polished now. It really should be so disgusting that you can practically smell the filth through the screen...
And they are quite lacking in the depravity department. There are certain bright spots—like when that retarded kid falls off a skyscraper and ends up dead, or when Torrente accidentally shoots a guy in the ear—but the absolute highlight for me is when he takes that half-witted primate and starts slamming him against the furniture...

Also, my favorite part remains the scene where his idiot friend slams the car into a utility pole and completely totals the vehicle after driving barely a single yard...

Of course, Segura’s charisma is such that I am practically doubling over just from the mere sight of him.

Segura rocks. If you haven't seen it, you absolutely must watch Beast Day!

Best: The Fellowship of the Ring. To be honest, I don't think the selection this year was particularly standout, which is why I'm placing this one at the top of my list. Perhaps something like Mulholland Drive would have fit here, though I haven't had the chance to sit down with it yet.

Worst: Something along the lines of Alley Cats or Freddy Got Fingered—they're probably lurking somewhere in that tier.

If you haven't seen it yet, you absolutely must watch *The Revenant*!

That movie is an absolute masterpiece 🙂
I was practically doubling over with laughter 😁

Richard Howard2 said:
Segura is an absolute legend. If you haven't seen his work yet, you are seriously missing out—go watch *Day of the Beast* right now!

I finally sat down and watched *Day of the Beast*... and honestly? It was nothing short of phenomenal. It makes me wonder, doesn't it, why a director like Álex de la Iglesia remains perpetually stuck in the shadow of much more commercial heavyweights like Pedro Almodóvar or Bigas Luna? He deserves so much more credit than he gets!
"The Community" is another absolute gem, even if Segura isn't the lead in that one.

By the way, those first two Torrent films are actually way more engaging for people living in Spain because he picks these bizarre, larger-than-life characters from their own public sphere—think TV hosts or pop singers. It’s almost like how a professor at a major US university might assign certain cult classics to students just to illustrate the nuances of modern American vernacular or cultural slang.
😁

"Spider" - David Cronenberg
"Dirty Pretty Things" - Stephen Frears
"Ararat" - Atom Egoyan
"The Good Thief" - Neil Jordan

Robert Cooper41 said:Steven Spielberg: Minority Report
Mike Leigh: All or Nothing
Alexander Sokurov: Russian Ark

--------------------------------------

Takeshi Kitano: "Dolls"
Tsai Ming-Liang: "What Time Is It There?"
Robert Altman: "Gosford Park"
Bill Paxton: "Frailty"
Manoel de Oliveira: "I'm Going Home"
David Lynch: "Mulholland Drive"
Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz: "About a Boy"

PS. This list isn't perfectly accurate since not everything was released this year

.. and of course: Santiago Segura: "Torrente 2: Misión en Marbella"

😁 😁

Man, that new Sokurov film was amazing... though I have to say, Kitano's "Dolls" left me feeling a bit let down...🙄 The cinematography is absolutely stunning, but I couldn't shake the feeling that the movie leans a little too hard into that overly sentimental kitsch vibe...🙄

Richard Howard2 said:

Segura is the man. If you haven't seen his work yet, you seriously need to check out *Day of the Beast*!

As far as I know... *Day of the Beast* was actually directed by De la Iglesia...

De la Iglesia actually directed that movie (take a look at those posts above 😁), but man, Segura is absolutely killing it in that supporting role—playing this totally twisted heavy metal satanist, haha

Now, Takeshi Kitano's "Dolls" isn't even in the same league as his stuff like "Kikujiro" or "Hana-bi," but I just finished watching it about ten days ago, so my thoughts on it are still pretty raw... which is probably why it made the list. Does the script have its flaws? Sure, it definitely does, but from a purely visual standpoint, the thing is absolutely mesmerizing.

Pale Blue Eyes said:As far as I am aware... De la Iglesia was the one behind El dia de la bestia...

I was actually referring to Segura's incredible performance as that heavy metal guy. And don't worry, I know Segura wasn't the director here...

Steven Ruiz said:What three movies do you think were the absolute best this year, and which one was the biggest letdown for you?

P.S.
I'll drop my own list in a bit.

Lord of the Rings
No Man's Land

Good grief, how could I have let one of my absolute favorites from 2002 slip my mind...

VIDOCQ!

Deep in the dragon's lair... A ninja and thirteen dragons 😛

Top tier:
1. Red Dragon
2. Resident Evil
3. Lord of the Rings

Bottom tier:
Lantana and Mulholland Drive are definitely at the bottom of the list.

Lord of the Rings

Best:

~ Panic Room

~ From Hell

~ About a Boy

Worst:

~ Freddy Got Fingered 🙄

Steven Ruiz said:Which three films do you think are truly essential viewing? vasem In your estimation, which cinematic masterpiece stood out as the absolute pinnacle of this year, and conversely, which film did you find to be the most underwhelming experience you’ve endured lately?

Without question, this has been the single best thing I have watched in theaters all year... and that is saying quite a lot. If you'll allow me to offer my own personal perspective on the matter? Just my two cents... I certainly wouldn't call myself a film critic, so I can hardly claim to be objective about this matter. Besides, haven't we all stumbled upon something utterly foolish from time to time? I mean, really, can one even attempt to pair the concept of a film critic with true objectivity in a single sentence without inviting a bit of irony? 😁 evo I am afraid I don't quite follow what you mean by that. Could you perhaps clarify your intention? Is there truly any greater pursuit than the search for excellence? When we set out to select the very best, aren't we essentially searching for a standard of perfection that defines our own tastes?

May we be spared from any greater misfortune; I find myself in complete agreement with the sentiments expressed by Ivo Gregurovic.
Could there be anything more captivating than the subtle nuances of a life lived with intention? Is it not true that we often overlook the small, quiet moments that truly define our existence?
Does anyone else ever find themselves revisiting those classic comic strips, like Asterix and Obelix? There is something profoundly soothing about following their adventures through the countryside, isn't there?

What could possibly be considered the absolute worst thing to hit our movie theaters this year? I suppose I am being quite subjective in my assessment, aren't I? What exactly constitutes an opinion? Is it merely a fleeting thought passing through the mind, or does it possess a deeper, more structural significance in how we perceive the world around us? I find myself pondering whether our views are truly our own, or if they are simply reflections of the environment in which we were raised.

Ali G? I found myself chuckling at perhaps two or three moments, but even that felt like far too much given how forced and over-the-top the humor was. Is it really necessary to try quite that hard to be funny? It was honestly quite exhausting.

And now, would it be improper to group certain other films into this category? I am thinking of those titles that failed to impress me, yet didn't quite reach the level of an absolute catastrophe:
The Bourne Identity (the story of a secret agent whose conscience finally begins to stir)
Does anyone else find themselves pondering the logical inconsistencies within *Minority Report*? Even though it remains a cinematic staple, one can't help but notice that the film is riddled with narrative gaps that seem to defy its own internal logic.
Could there be any cinematic masterpiece quite as seamless as *Ocean's Eleven*? One finds oneself wondering if the modern heist genre has ever truly managed to recapture that specific blend of effortless cool and meticulous planning. Is it the sheer charisma of the ensemble cast that pulls you in, or perhaps the rhythmic, almost musical way the plot unfolds? It remains a fascinating study in how a group of specialists can navigate chaos with such practiced grace.

I find myself wondering if anyone else enjoys those films that don't quite reach the status of an all-time favorite, yet still manage to leave a lasting impression? I would like to offer a few modest recommendations for movies that might not sit within my personal top three, but are certainly worth your time if you are looking for something quality to watch.

Could there be any greater cinematic coincidence than stumbling upon *The Mothman Prophecies* or *American Psycho 2*? It is truly striking how much of my own life seems to intersect with the themes presented in those films. Is it merely chance, or is there something deeper at play when a story mirrors one's own reality so closely? 😲 )

And what can we truly say regarding the decision made by Michael Sullivan3? He articulated his position quite elegantly, suggesting that he is... Could one even begin to contemplate the depths of his influence? Is it really such a shock that I held a negative opinion regarding that film? It was always a possibility, wasn't it? Now, I find myself wondering why everyone—including you, Michelle Howard2—is reacting with such intensity, as if my critique were some sort of personal affront. Is there anything more profound than the simple act of offering oneself to another? Might we find that true connection lies in what we choose to give without expectation? Could there be anything more satisfying than discovering a collection of truly exceptional films? Truly, they are simply wonderful. vas It isn't so much a problem as it is a fundamental reality: not everyone possesses the same tastes or enjoys the same selection of films. Is it not possible that some users are fully aware they have entered a corner of this forum dedicated to high culture? If they were more mindful of that context, perhaps they would keep it in mind while composing their posts.

I cannot help but wonder if the criticism directed toward Michael Sullivan3 was actually motivated by something else entirely, using his taste in cinema merely as a convenient excuse? After all, shouldn't we consider how deeply it can sting when someone takes aim at our personal preferences?

Regarding this second section—specifically concerning Michael Sullivan3's selection of films—it refers to those posts that the moderator relocated into a newly created thread. http://www.teme.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1238

Michael Sullivan3 😁

Personally, I really enjoyed these:
Amélie
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Royal Tenenbaums

Not so much:
Lord of the Rings 🙂@Michael Sullivan3
Star Wars 🙂@everyone

Just wanted to point out that today's edition of the New York Times has this pretty slick cinematic guide running, featuring short blurbs on the "Top 100 Movies of the Year" picked by their resident critics—J. Pavlich, S. Petrov, and Z. Tomic. Honestly, though, calling Tomic a critic feels like a stretch since he basically declared 17 different movies as absolute masterpieces with five stars, despite having only reviewed about a third of them. It’s still a decent little trip down memory lane looking back at everything we caught or missed over the last year, though.

I seem to have overlooked my top three favorites, along with a certain film...

LAND OF OPPORTUNITY