Movie Ratings for 2001

The top films are ordered by preference, all else is ordered alphabetically. Eligibility is determined by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' standards for films released in 2003 (http://www.oscars.org/74academyawards/rules/rule03.html) and limited to movies that I have seen during their premiere release in a first-run theater. I have taken to using Roger Ebert's system of dividing movie ratings into 9 categories, ranging from zero to four and incremented by one-half, with the distinction of naming each category and providing a suggestion of its importance.

4.0- The Best (See it as soon as possible. When the theater empties, go home and order the DVD.)
  1. Mulholland Dr.
  2. The Royal Tenenbaums
  3. Waking Life
  4. Amelie (Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain)
  5. Moulin Rouge!
  6. Y tu Mamá También
  7. Gosford Park
3.5- Great (See it in theaters and buy the DVD.)
  1. Vanilla Sky
  2. No Man's Land
  3. The Man Who Wasn't There
  4. Monsters, Inc.
  5. A Beautiful Mind
  6. Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi)
3.0- Very Good (See it and buy the DVD if on sale or available in a good edition.)
  • A. I.: Artificial Intelligence
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
  • Shrek
2.5- Good (It is worth seeing more than once. Accept the DVD if it's given as a gift.)
  • America's Sweethearts
  • Black Hawk Down
  • Blow
  • Donnie Darko
  • Enemy at the Gates
  • Kiss of the Dragon
  • Ocean's Eleven
  • The Score
2.0- Mediocre (See it if the opportunity arises. Accept the DVD as a gift, but don't give a gift in return.)
  • Ali
  • Hannibal
  • Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
  • The Mexican
1.5- Not Bad (It isn't a priority, wait for a wide video release. Politely decline any offers to receive the DVD.)
  • The Fast and the Furious
  • Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
  • Rush Hour 2
  • Swordfish
1.0- Bad (See it on a rainy day, and only after exhausting any of the above choices. Avoid the DVD.)
  • Evolution
  • Planet of the Apes
  • Rat Race
0.5- Terrible (Seeing it is a mistake. Go to video stores and laugh at those who purchase the DVD.)
  • Zoolander
0.0- Poison (It will cause temporary loss of brain function, similar to a mild concussion. Nobody will release it on DVD, just ignore it if they do.)
  • Freddy Got Fingered
  • Jurassic Park III

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