December 24, 2005.

It's that time of the year again, when everyone and his Uncle has a Top 10 [Insert Subject Matter of Interest Here]. And hey, since we here at BeyondHollywood.com have Uncles, too, we have our own lists! And of course, since we're a movie site, here are our list of the Top 10 Movies for 2005.

James Mudge declares... (in no particular order)

Land of the Dead - Saying that "Land of the Dead" isn't as good as the first three films in Romero's thankfully resurrected zombie franchise is kind of missing the point and is like comparing Jim Beam unfavourably with Jack Daniels. An exciting blend of political satire and flying viscera, it reminds viewers that it is possible for genre films to transcend simple exploitation and no brain thrills.

The Devil's Rejects - Rob Zombie's follow up to the energetic but messy "House of 1000 Corpses" is a low down and dirty treat which ditches the flashy technical baggage of its predecessor, and more than any other film of late truly captures the feel of 1970s grind house. Although some may be turned off by the fact that the central characters are among the most unpleasant and unsympathetic ever committed to celluloid, those unhindered by moralistic sensibilities will find an enjoyable and wildly unfettered slice of psychotic entertainment.

Wolf Creek - True life horror from Australia that really hits home and mercilessly tortures the viewer along with its unfortunate cast. Beautifully shot and unflinchingly bleak, "Wolf Creek" stands as possibly the most intense and disturbing experience of the year.

The Descent - British director Neil Marshall's follow up to his cult favourite "Dog Soldiers" is a very different film indeed, a skilfully made, claustrophobic and full blooded nightmare which benefits hugely from a script which makes a genuine effort to produce believable, sympathetic characters. Terrifying and gripping from start to finish.

Downfall - An extraordinary film about the second world war from Germany, which examines with brutal honesty the fall of a country into madness. Brave, uncompromising and fascinating, this is a tragedy of the highest order and one which makes no easy moral judgements.

The Bow - Korean director Kim Ki-Duk's latest sees him continue the philosophical musings of his recent output, with a film that is deceptively simple, yet rich with metaphor. As usual, the exact meaning of the piece is very much open to personal interpretation, and the lyrical atmosphere gives the film the resonance of a poem or fable.

A Bittersweet Life - Not quite the "Oldboy" beater that some had hoped it would be, Kim Jee-Woon's modern film noir is still a breathtaking piece of film making. As violent as it is genuinely moving, it manages to encompass pretty much every aspect of the ideal motion picture experience, wrapped up with some stunning, melancholy visuals.

Batman Begins - Not only the most powerful and mature reinvention of a lost franchise, but proof that Hollywood is still capable of quality film making. A film dedicated to its characters (Katie Holmes aside) which brings an adult feel and believability to the story, without sacrificing action or explosive thrills.

Crying Fist - A Korean boxing film that transcends the boundaries of the sports genre and which makes the brave move of giving the viewer a choice between two equally deserving and sympathetic characters. Moving, exciting and presenting a painfully human slice of drama.

Kung Fu Hustle - Stephen Chow cements his reputation as not only one of the funniest, but also the cleverest film makers from the East. Mixing surreal comedy, martial arts and liberal use of cultural references, the film is packed full of action and Chow's usual brand of lunatic supporting characters.

Joseph Savitski says... (in order)

1. Constantine

Gopal opines...

So, it's that time again when we all look back at the year that's past and try to rank stuff.  Why?  Beats me, but it's the thing to do.  And so, I've been tasked to come up with my Top 10 films of 2005.  But in trying to put together the list, my first question is "Have I even seen ten films this year?"  You see, 2005 has been one of the worst years in recent memory with respect to quality of films (at least those readily available here in the US).  This was evidenced by Hollywood's doldrums as ticket revenues have trailed previous years by as much as 23% at various times.  Sure, there may have been some gems released overseas such as "The Descent," the upcoming "Wolf Creek" and "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance," but we won't get to see them here for a while so that already puts a limit on the selection.  

But of the new films I've seen in 2005, here's how they rank:

1) Syriana - Delving into the intricacies of international business and government espionage has rarely been as engrossing and fascinating as it appears in Stephen Gaghan's masterful film.  Skillfully juggling a myriad of disparate plot threads, Gaghan constructs a collage of ideas and insinuations that is at once dizzyingly complex yet plainly simple.  The most elegantly thought-provoking film this year.

2) A History of Violence - Can a person really change who he is?  Can a person be defined by what others think of him, regardless of who he may have once been?  These are the questions asked by notorious horror director David Cronenberg in his first foray into mainstream genre filmmaking.  Mixing quiet, introspective scenes with shocking violence, Cronenberg crafts a deliberate but engrossing film.  Terrific performances by Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello and Ed Harris highlight this unflinching look at the rotten underbelly of midwestern suburbia.

3) Batman Begins - After Joel Schumacher single-handedly destroyed the Batman franchise by turning Gotham City into a candy cane dreamland, "Memento" director Christopher Nolan succeeded in pulling a phoenix from the ashes with this ultra dark take on the Batman legend.  Starring Welsh hunk Christian Bale as the brooding dark knight, "Batman Begins" is a prototypical summer action film with an atypically intelligent script.  Kinetic action and striking visuals establish this as not only the best Batman movie, but one of the best comic book adaptations ever.

4) Sin City - Not an adaptation, but rather an incredibly authentic transposition of comic book to screen, "Sin City" is hands down the most visually inventive film of `05.  Mixing Frank Miller's stark black-and-white style with vivid flashes of color, the film is an exhilarating and gritty mix of sadistic violence and black humor.

5) Layer Cake - While working off a pretty standard script about how hard it is to retire from drug dealing, "Layer Cake" manages to step out of Guy Richie's shadow with a more subtle and introspective take on gritty British gangsterism.  The film still has the cast of crazy characters and hard hitting violence commensurate with the genre, but handles it with a more subtle hand.

6) King Kong - Big, bombastic and bloated, Peter Jackson's rollicking remake of the 1933 classic about the giant ape tamed by a hot blonde is everything that's good and bad about event films.  Working off a thorough rewrite of the basic story, Jackson has put together yet another visually and thematically stunning film.  But at over three hours in length, Jackson shows us exactly where that 70 lbs of flab he lost ended up.

7) Charlie And The Chocolate Factory - Yet another remake from Hollywood's creative vacuum.  However, this one is saved by Tim Burton's twisted sense of humor and Johnny Depp's unhinged performance as the titular confectioner.  An odd and slightly disturbing mix of the macabre and jaunty.

8) Jarhead - A refreshing take on a soldier's trip to war, "Jarhead" presents an agenda-free look at the confusion that accompanies an aimless tour of duty.  Strong performances by Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Foxx set against fantastic desert photography make this one of the more thought-provoking and irreverent war films since "Three Kings."

9) Kung Fu Hustle - Bruce Lee look-alike Stephen Chow crams the main elements of old-school chop-socky flicks, slapstick comedy and subtle and not-so-subtle jabs at the "Matrix" films into a very entertaining 95 minutes. 

10) Red Eye - Old school horror master Wes Craven takes a stab at the mainstream thriller with this tale of extortion and assassination.  Fast paced and efficient, with strong performances by über creep Cillian Murphy and the radiant Rachel McAdams, "Red Eye" is a breathless and energetic thriller.

Honorable mentions got to:

A Bittersweet Life - One of the slickest pieces of stone-cold machismo to slide across the silver screen since "Scarface."

Blood And Bones - Takeshi Kitano gives a ferocious and terrifying performance as a Korean immigrant in Japan.  Japan's entry for the Best Foreign Film Oscar.

Note that this list doesn't include two highly anticipated films - Steven Spielberg's "Munich" and Terrence Malick's "The New World" - both of which I think will slot near the top of my list.

And finally, Nix concludes with...

Okay, sorry for writing about myself in the third person. That's just creepy. Anyways, because I haven't seen nearly enough films to compile a Top 10 list, I'll just mention some films that you might not have heard of that made an impression on me. So if you run across them, give them a chance.

It Waits - One of the best moderately budgeted horror films. It doesn't invent the wheel, or even tries, but still a solid thriller with wonderful work by the always wonderful Cerina Vincent.

Tamara - Another moderately budgeted horror movie that will be known as the film where "that really hot chick Jenna Dewan made her debut". A film with huge amounts of potential tamed by lack of resources and the cast's refusal to do nudity. The horrors!

Sha Po Lang (SPL) - Hong Kong actioner that mixes gritty cop drama with ballsy martial arts. Stars Donnie Yen as a model who somehow became a cop (not really) and Simon Yam in the role you've seen him typecast in in a million Hong Kong cop films, but he's never been this good. Plus, you will believe a 300-pound Sammo Hung can kick your ass.

A Bittersweet Life - The kind of movies the Korean makes better than anyone -- visually rich, brutal, and technically masterful. Too bad the film is too "safe". Still, if you've never seen what a Korean movie can do, you'll be hook after this one.

Half Light - Demi Moore returns to leading lady status as a writer haunted by the ghost of her dead son and other assorted spirits. Creepy as hell, with a weak Third Act.

Tom Yum Goong - Tony Jaa continues his rise to international stardom with a solid follow-up to his breakthrough "Ong Bak". Action junkies will think they have died and gone to heaven after the initial 20-minute setup is over and the asskicking begins.

The Great Raid - Former Indie darling John Dahl tells the true story of the American military's most successful rescue mission in history. It was ignored at the box office because it's too feel good and positive in a time when all American cinemagoers want is movies badmouthing America and trying to "understand" terrorists.

The Aggressives - A South Korean movie about teen isolation, angst, and inline skating. The main draw here is an unpredictable and genre-breaking script. Plus there's a bunch of cool skating and stuff.

So there you have it, kids. See you in 2006!

(c) 2005 by BeyondHollywood.com