Alright, I'm finally getting down to it. With the Oscars coming up and all, I figured I would chime in with my Best and Worst of 2003. I didn't do a "Best List" last year, because I really wasn't going out to the movies much in the second half of the year. But this year, I got to see just about everything I wanted to, with the exception of "21 Grams," "In America," and "Monster," I think I'm good to go.
When I went back over my list of all the movies I saw in the past year, I was thinking my worst list was going to actually have to have some decent stuff on it. Because I avoided a lot of obvious triteness like "Gigli" and "Cat in the Hat," but I was surprised at some of the crap I actually sat through. So, without further ado, here's my best and worst of 2003. I guess, I'll save the best for last...god, that was terrible.

TEN WORST FILMS I SAW IN 2003

10. DARKNESS FALLS - As Chris said, there really weren't any good horror films this year; hell, I didn't even think "28 Days Later" was that good, but when compared to ones like this I can see why people went all ga ga over it. The Tooth Fairy attacks a small town and blah, blah, blah. First off, tooth fairy is not that menacing, and secondly, why would it focus it's rage on one town; isn't this a world wide myth or at least intercontinental. Anyways, a very stupid movie all the way around.

9. ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO - Johnny Depp's performance is so good in this movie; in fact, it's arguably better than the one in "Pirates of the Carribean." However, unlike that movie, this one sucks. However, almost worth watching for Depp; he is so fucking good in this. It really sucks that there is nothing else good about it; not even Mickey Rourke. Can't someone find this guy a starring role.

8. CRADLE 2 THE GRAVE - Jet Li and DMX are fighting over some black diamonds that are also some purified light source that creates this laser and...whatever. The oddest thing about this movie is that it started out as a remake of the Peter Lorre film, "M", from the thirties. I don't know how it became this.

7. DADDY DAYCARE - God, oh god. Why does Eddie Murphy keep doing this kiddie crap? This is not funny anyway you look at it; it's just embarassing. I'll take "Golden Child" and "Harlem Nights" over this any day. But not "Vampire in Brooklyn," I just can't go there.

6. BAD BOYS II - I agree with Chris 100% on this one. And why in the hell was it 21/2 hours?

5. THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN - Sean Connery as Allan Quatermain teamed up with the likes of Captain Nemo and Dr. Jekyl might sound cool; actually it really doesn't. Tom Sawyer is in the CIA as well. When you're spending upwards of 100 million on a film and the special effects look this terrible, it's just not acceptable.

4. UNDERWORLD - As Chris said, werewolves fighting vampires and they have to use guns. And I am sick of the arrogance of some of these filmmakers. Yes, The Matrix looked cool when it was The Matrix. If you copy it, all you come off as is a copycat, so please quit. I have never seen so much pointless slo-mo that leads absolutely nowhere.

3. HOUSE OF THE DEAD - Chris wrote an excellent review of this when it came out, and I agree completely. Man, horror films really sucked this year, which leads me to:

2. TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE - I like horror films, so obviously I am not opposed to the use of gore, but there also needs to be a point to it and maybe a few scares. When you're being sick and disgusting just for the hell of it then you're getting more exploiative than anything, and making me want to vomit. I had to shower after this one; Marcus Nispel, the director, has some serious issues he needs to work out.

1. THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE - You know, the sad thing is that this movie really, truly thinks it is anti-death penalty. I love Alan Parker films (Mishima, Mississippi Burning, Angel Heart, Evita), but not this one. It's a shitty, shitty film; probably the worst one I've seen so far this decade.

I will type up the best a little later; that's enough to read for now.