Movie Ratings for 2003

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/76academyawards/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. The Fog of War
  2. American Splendor
  3. Lost in Translation
  4. 21 Grams
  5. Big Fish
  6. Elephant
  7. Monster
  8. Mystic River
  9. Finding Nemo
3.5- Great (See it in theaters and buy the DVD.)
  1. The Triplets of Belleville (Les Triplettes de Belleville)
  2. House of Sand and Fog
  3. A Mighty Wind
  4. Kill Bill v.1
  5. The Last Samurai
  6. The Matrix Revolutions
3.0- Very Good (See it and buy the DVD if on sale or available in a good edition.)
  • Cold Mountain
  • The Cooler
  • Girl with a Pearl Earring
  • Hulk
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
  • Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
  • The Matrix Reloaded
2.5- Good (It is worth seeing more than once. Accept the DVD if it's given as a gift.)
  • The Italian Job
  • Matchstick Men
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  • Seabiscuit
2.0- Mediocre (See it if the opportunity arises. Accept the DVD as a gift, but don't give a gift in return.)
1.5- Not Bad (It isn't a priority, wait for a wide video release. Politely decline any offers to receive the DVD.)
  • Bruce Almighty
1.0- Bad (See it on a rainy day, and only after exhausting any of the above choices. Avoid the DVD.)
0.5- Terrible (Seeing it is a mistake. Go to video stores and laugh at those who purchase the DVD.)
  • Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
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.)

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