2003 was a good year for movies, but 2004 was a great year. It's amazing that not only were so many great films produced by the independent arena but the Hollywood studio system as well. We still had our fair share of franchises and sequels, which makes me a little nervous about next year. So many movie critics give their list of best films of the year like they know what they're talking about. We don't. What do we know? It's all a matter of opinion, our choices are not the definitive ones and our opinions are as equal as the everyday viewer. I take the knowledge I've accumulated throughout the years and use it to de-construct a film and formulate my opinion for you.

I'll never use that word, best, to define what I like the most. Who am I to say what's the best? There have been films I've raved about and films I hated and were often unfairly brutal to in my reviews, but what right do I have to say what's the best or the worst? You'll never, ever see me naming any film as the worst or list a group as the worst. I didn't like a movie, so what? Someone obviously loved it and their opinion should be held as high as my own.

My taste ranges from films considered masterpieces to guilty pleasures that were destroyed by critics and audiences. One man's trash may be another man's treasure. Who am I to say what's good or bad? Every movie, no matter how insulting or poor it may be, has a drop of love that went into it. Someone had the heart to get a movie made and that's more than most people can say. There's an old story of a Hollywood producer who would applaud at the end of every movie he saw, even if it was terrible because he knew how difficult it was to get a movie made. The list of films I've composed were my favorites. They were the ones I thought about a lot, through my everyday life, in my dreams and even full of dialogue that have become part of my everyday vocabulary.

Good films are supposed to move you and ultimately become a part of you. You may like a movie because of a performance by an actor, its visual style, music, story or elements that spoke to a part of you and were able to relate to it. There were a lot of good films out this year, but as good as they were there were many that were too similar to each other. I prefer movies that show me something I haven't seen before or re-invent something I have. I like films that defy convention and I've also discovered that the ten films I loved all have one subject in common: they're all about love. Love of politics, love of your fellow man, love of progression, love of science, love of a companion. There are many forms of love and coincidentally each of these films focuses on one or many of them:

10. THE DREAMERS - This film was a release from early in the year that everyone seems to have forgotten about. While many focused on it's graphic sex and NC-17 rating, they forgot it was a film about that period of youth when you think you have all the answers and have yet to discover who you are.

9. HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS - This film had to open in the shadow of director Zhang Yimou's "Hero" but even if you took away the martial arts it's a visually beautiful film to follow. The film is almost like a dream itself, not to mention that Zhang Ziyi is one of the dreamiest actresses in recent years.

8. TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE - Here's another film that opened at the wrong time. Then again, when would be an appropriate time for a film like this? If you look past the puppets having sex and the bathroom humor, this is a wonderful film that satirizes not only action films but American mentality as well. It's also got one of the best scores in recent years and works as a musical.

7. DOGVILLE - This film played at the New York Film Festival, opened in the Spring. and came and went. I loved it for its originality and the fact that Lars Von Trier is a visual and daring genius.

6. SIDEWAYS - Paul Giamatti delivered my favorite performance by an actor this year and I'm pretty sure he'll be forgotten about. Everyone is looking towards bio-pics these days. It's easier to portray a real individual than create a complex fictional character and Giamatti pulls it off. Don't let his work or that of Thomas Haden Church and Virgina Madsen pass you by.

5.THE AVIATOR - Some solid work by Leonardo DiCaprio, but also an expertly directed film from Martin Scorsese. He's taken Hollywood's money and fashioned an old-time Hollywood epic. I don't believe in the Oscars, but isn't it about time Marty got one?

4. GHOST IN THE SHELL: INNOCENCE - I'm sure this one slipped by many, but it's one of the most intelligently constructed films of the year. Basically philosophical conversations between the director and himself, this is a powerful anime that doesn't have to rely on comic book style action to tell a compelling story. If you're in the mood for a head trip, pick up the dvd December 28th.

3. HOTEL RWANDA - Don Cheadle has stepped to the front with a powerful and intelligent performance as a man who risked everything he had for complete strangers. Many are praising Jaime Foxx for his work in "Ray" but where Foxx was the one good thing about that film, Cheadle is surrounded by powerful events and a supportive cast in a non-traditional story that needed to be told.

2. THE INCREDIBLES - The greatest adventure of the year because of the humanity that lies within. Everyone says CGI is sucking the soul out of cinema, but this film shows that synthetic characters can have souls themselves. Nearly every constructed aspect of this film works and that's due to the collaborative effort that is Pixar films. It's a film lover's dream and I'm sure will be studied by future generations.

1. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND - A non-traditional love story and the boldest and most original exercise I've seen this year. Everyone has had some form of difficulties with love and this film demonstrates that unhappy memories shape us as much as the happy ones.

THE FIVE THAT ALMOST MADE IT -

1. MILLION DOLLAR BABY - At times this film was a tad too generic and traditional for me and even though I couldn't specifically predict how the third act would pack a wallop, I felt it coming early on. Still, Eastwood has directed possible his greatest film and coaxed beautiful performances from Hilary Swank (who has wisely remained outside of generic Hollywood films since her Oscar win), Morgan Freeman (still playing the moral center but making the best of it) and himself. Waiting forty years to see real tears from an Eastwood character was worth the wait. Let’s just hope he stays away from stories like “The Rookie” and “Space Cowboys.” This film is a tribute to the Hollywood films of the old studio system and a wonderful love story about family and the sacrifices made for one another. You want a sports movie? Rent "Rocky" or "Next Karate Kid". You want a human story? This is your baby.

2. CLOSER - One of the best adaptations of a play I've ever seen.

3. BAD EDUCATION - Almodovar has finally grown up and continues to evolve as a filmmaker. If he ever makes a full blown American production Hollywood will quake in their boots.

4. VERA DRAKE - Mike Leigh also continues to evolve as a filmmaker and explore the human condition. Every time I see a generic American drama I wonder how it would have turned out if he made it.

5. FAHRENHEIT 9/11 - Michael Moore's well constructed documentary was the most controversial film of the Summer. As much as I enjoyed and appreciated this film, since November its become difficult to watch. Let's be realistic, it actually helped get George W. Bush re-elected.

FAVORITE PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR:
PAUL GIAMATTI: "SIDEWAYS"
DON CHEADLE: "HOTEL RWANDA"
JAMIE FOXX: "RAY"
CHRISTIAN BALE: "THE MACHINIST"
KEVIN BACON: "THE WOODSMAN"

FAVORITE PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS:
IMELDA STAUNTON: "VERA DRAKE"
HILARY SWANK: "MILLION DOLLAR BABY"
KATE WINSLETT: "ETERNAL SUNSHINE..."
VIRGINIA MADSEN: "SIDEWAYS"
NATALIE PORTMAN: "CLOSER"

FAVORITE DOCUMENTARIES
"FAHRENHEIT 9/11"
"SUPER-SIZE ME"
"RIDING GIANTS"
"TARNATION"

FAVORITE SCREENPLAY:
"ETERNAL SUNSHINE"
"HOTEL RWANDA"
"THE SEA INSIDE"
"COLLATERAL"
"PRIMER"

FAVORITE CINEMATOGRAPHY:
"COLLATERAL"
"MILLION DOLLAR BABY"
"ETERNAL SUNSHINE"
"THE INCREDIBLES"

FAVORITE MUSICAL SCORES:
MICHAEL GRIACCHINO: "THE INCREDIBLES
HARRY GREGSON-WILLIAMS: "TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE
ALEJANDRO AMENABAR "THE SEA INSIDE"
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER: "THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
JOHN POWELL: "THE BOURNE SUPREMACY"

FAVORITE DIRECTION:
MARTIN SCORSESE: "THE AVIATOR"
MICHEL GONDREY: "ETERNAL SUNSHINE..."
MARIO VAN PEEBLES: "BADASSSS"
ALEXANDER PAYNE: "SIDEWAYS"
BRAD BIRD: "THE INCREDIBLES"

FAVORITE DVD RELEASES:
"THE ULTIMATE MATRIX COLLECTION", "THE RETURN OF THE KING: EXTENDED EDITION" "THE MARTIN SCORSESE COLLECTION", "THE CHARLIE CHAN ANTHOLOGY" "THE WARNER BROS. GANGSTERS COLLECTION" (I got it early)

SEQUELS THAT EXCEEDED THE ORIGINALS:
"BEFORE SUNSET", "SPIDER-MAN 2", "THE BOURNE SUPREMACY", "MEET THE FOCKERS", "HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN", "THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK" - "Yes, it's a big dumb action movie, a sort of "Conan In Space," but it's a decent piece of mindless entertainment. Not to mention, it's fun.

Well, that's all folks. I hope that next that the next sequel filled year is a good one. I hope its a rewarding one for audiences and Latino Review because, year five is about to begin.