Saturday, April 29, 2006

UNITED 93


"Hi mom, its me... this really kind woman handed me the phone and told me to call you. "

After leaving the theater I saw UNITED 93 I felt an eerie feeling. Something was not quite right in my, and I was very shaken up, perhaps more so than I've ever been after any movie I've ever seen. There was something wrong with this film, I thought to myself. Whatever that this was, I couldn't put my finger on it. Looking back on the film, I realize now that the eerie feeling I had in the pit of my stomach was from the film's absolute perfection. The reason I couldn't place my finger on what was wrong with UNITED 93 was because, well, nothing was wrong with it. The film is without a single flaw or misstep. It may in fact be the film that does what intends to do more perfectly than any other film I've ever seen.

Director Paul Greengrass's vision is inspired, respectful, and in its own right extraordinary. From the very first moment of the film, he puts the audience in the shoes of everyone onboard United Flight 93. Non-name actors are used to give the film a more realistic feel, and these people are really a genuine reflection of life. As in the real world the passengers barely communicate with each other, other than the pleasantries of exchanging information such as occupations, reasons for being on the flight, and the weather. There is no background stories for any of the characters because in all likelihood none of the passengers knew anything about the people they were flying with.

Other than the controversy that arose due to the argument that it might have been too early to make a 9/11 film (which would have happened to any film regardless of the time period, United 93 was just the first released in theaters), debate raged over the portrayal of the terrorists who overtook United 93. The beginning frames of the film show the terrorists in their hotel rooms ceremonially praying and shaving off all of the hair on their body. They pray in every moment of solitude for strength and protection from God, and the lead terrorist is heard saying “I love you” to someone on a cell phone before he gets on the plane. Greengrass, who wrote the script for UNITED 93, does not portray these men as monsters, but as men who were doing what they believed was right according to their religion. Whether they were monsters or martyrs is a debate that will in all likelihood never end.

Along with the story line of the members of Flight 93 is the story of the men and women working at the FAA and the air control traffickers. It was the Director of the FAA’s first day, and a day that he’ll never forget. He, as well as other members of the government who worked on the ground that day, plays himself. Again, Greengrass uses the actual people involved in the tragedy to make the film more realistic. He also wisely avoids any conspiracy theories that arose after 9/11 about the government, religious groups, terrorists, or anything else really. The scenes on the ground take place in real-time, and the audience watches the most horrific day of this generation unfold as the workers in the FAA did. Several planes are thought to have been hijacked that actual were not. After the first plane hits the World Trade Center, it is suspected, and then incorrectly confirmed by the government to be a small one-man plane. A plane goes off the FAA’s radar over New Jersey, and then the World Trade Center is hit again. Everyone in the picture’s eyes open in shock when the plane that disappeared over New Jersey resurfaces over Connecticut. The military wages war with itself over whether or not the rules of engagement allow any planes to be shot down. When fighter jets are finally scrambled and are in the air the audience finds out in horror that none of them are armed.

On board the terrorists take over the plane, which comes as no surprise to anyone, but is still emotionally shocking. One of the four terrorists straps a bomb around their chest, while another stands next to him, and a third slits the throat of a passenger to ensure the passengers that this is not a laughing matter. The final terrorist kicks down the cockpit door and takes control of the plane, killing the pilots.

The sudden burst of action after the flight-like calm is devastating. Anarchy ensues onboard, as the passengers run to the rear huddled together. One sees the pilots being dragged out, instilling even more fear because they had possibly believed that all of this was a hostage situation that they would all live through. One passenger relays the message from a relative that the World Trade Center had been hit. The emotion overflows in the last fifteen minutes of the film. The infamous phone calls to loved ones are made, and everyone realizes that it is now or never. They are not going to make it off the plane if the continue to sit in the rear of the plane hoping someone else will save them. Todd Beamer’s famous “Let’s Roll” speech is played out, but not in a heroic tone, but more a tone of desperation. A ragtag, last-minute plan is made, and the passengers, who sat down as a group of individuals, rise as a united body. There is a spark of hope in the pit of the audience’s stomachs, as the heroes aboard that plane rush through the aisle to the cockpit. The most haunting moment of the film comes when it is realized that although this is a movie, it does not have a happy ending.

Some people question why this movie was made. No questions were answered with any certainty or validity. There was no character development. There wasn’t a standout performance or line of dialogue. The reason that this film was made was for audiences to remember 9/11. Not that over 3,000 American lives were lost at the World Trade Center, but that there were forty men and women who sacrificed their lives so that another event similar to the World Trade Center would not happen. Because art is a meditation of life, and there is decency and heroism in this film, it can be concluded that there is something to be fought for in the real world. That is why I believe Paul Greengrass made this film, and that is why it is such an important masterpiece, one that may define this generation.

A+

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

INSIDE MAN

“That thing you’re suckin’ on, it ain’t no pina colada.”

Perhaps no film released so far this year has had the potential to be great as much as Inside Man. Spike Lee’s first true venture into mainstream blockbuster Hollywood ends up being a fine, average picture, disappointing considering the acting and writing talent that went into it.

INSIDE MAN is a heist picture that starts off ingeniously. Dalton Russel (a superb, chillingly efficient Clive Owen) is the leader of a team of bank robbers who assemble to rob Manhatten Trust Bank. Russel Gewirtz’s remarkable first-time script wastes no time establishing how smart and in-control these bank robbers are. They use a type of flashlight that blinds the camera, have all of the hostages dress in identical jumpsuits, and call each other variations of the name Steven to avoid any recognition afterward. They are seemingly always one step ahead of the cops and the hostages.

Denzel Washington plays Keith Frazier, the police officer who already has enough on his plate at home with a girlfriend who is eager to have him propose to her, and is assigned to negotiate with the robbers, who have demanded two buses and a jumbo jet within 12 hours, or else. Frazierepitomizes the movie: eloquent, intelligent, undeniably cool, and unsure of how to approach his situation.

The supporting characters are all terrific as well. Jodie Foster plays a power broker brought in to handle a dicey situation involving The chairman of the bank's board of directors, controlling entrepreneur Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer), who may or may not have interests at stake. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Frazier’s partner, who freely admits he does not entirely understand the situation, and questions Frazier’s security about it all.

Ultimately it is Spike Lee’s direction that betrays the film. No matter how many measures he takes, he is not able to create a truly suspenseful atmosphere, or give the audience a payoff that does justice to the rest of the superb script. It shouldn’t come as any real surprise after the film is over why Lee was so hesitant to get to the end, and took so much time getting to the ending. It is unfulfilling.

INSIDE MAN is much better when broken down into its component parts than when examined as a whole. Its terrific acting and script make it a good, fun movie, but its lack of a suspenseful atmosphere may leave some with a disappointing taste in their mouths.

B

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Reviews

16 Blocks
21 Grams
25th Hour
300
A Prairie Home Companion

A Scanner Darkly
Band of Brothers

The Battle of Algiers
The Black Dahlia
Blood Diamond
Borat!
Brick
Cape Fear
Cars
Casino Royale
Children of Men
Cinema Paradiso
Citizen Kane
City of God
Click
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Crank
The Da Vinci Code
Déjá Vu
The Departed

Downfall
Dr. Strangelove
Dreamgirls
Elephant
Employee of the Month
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Flags of Our Fathers
The Fountain
Ghost Rider
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Good Shepherd
GoodFellas
Grindhouse
High Noon
Inside Man
Jarhead
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
The Last Detail
The Last King of Scotland
Little Children
Manhattan
Memento

Miami Vice
Mission: Impossible 3
Modern Times
Mulholland Dr.
Nacho Libre
Nashville
Natural Born Killers
On the Waterfront
Pirates of the Caribbean 2
The Player
Poseidon
The Prestige
The Pursuit of Happyness
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Rashomon
Saving Private Ryan
Snakes on a Plane

Snatch
Superman
Superman Returns
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
Thank You For Smoking
The Thin Red Line
Unforgiven
United 93
The Untouchables
V for Vendetta
World Trade Center
X-Men: The Last Stand
You, Me & Dupree
Zodiac

Everything

  1. 101 Dalmations (B+)
  2. 1o1 Dalmations (Live Action) (B-)
  3. 12 Angry Men (A+)
  4. 13 Going on 30 (C)
  5. 16 Blocks (C)
  6. 1408 (B)
  7. 2 Fast 2 Furious (C)
  8. 2001: A Space Odyssey (A+)
  9. 21 Grams (A+)
  10. 25th Hour (A-)
  11. 28 Days Later (A)
  12. 28 Weeks Later (B)
  13. 300 (A)
  14. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (B)
  15. 8 Mile (C+)
  16. A Beautiful Mind (A-)
  17. A Bug's Life (B)
  18. A Christmas Carol (A)
  19. A Few Good Men (B-)
  20. A History of Violence (A)
  21. A League of Their Own (A-)
  22. A Prairie Home Companion (A)
  23. A Scanner Darkly (A)
  24. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (C-)
  25. After the Sunset (C+)
  26. Air Bud (B-)
  27. Air Force One (B)
  28. Airplane (A)
  29. A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (A)
  30. Aladdin (B+)
  31. The Alamo (C)
  32. Ali (B-)
  33. Alien (A+)
  34. Almost Famous (A)
  35. American Beauty (A+)
  36. American Graffiti (A)
  37. American History X (A-)
  38. American Pie (B)
  39. American Pie 2 (B)
  40. The American President (B-)
  41. American Wedding (C)
  42. The Amityville Horror (B)
  43. Analyze This (B-)
  44. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (A+)
  45. Angels in the Outfield (B+)
  46. Anger Management (B)
  47. Any Given Sunday (B)
  48. An Inconvenient Truth (B+)
  49. Apocalypse Now (A+)
  50. Apollo 13 (B+)
  51. Armageddon (A-)
  52. As Good As It Gets (A-)
  53. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (A-)
  54. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (A-)
  55. Austin Powers in Goldmember (A-)
  56. The Aviator (A)
  57. Babe (B-)
  58. Babel (B)
  59. Baby Geniuses (F)
  60. Back to the Future (A+)
  61. Back to the Future Pt II (B+)
  62. Back to the Future Pt III (B+)
  63. Bad Boys (B)
  64. Bad Boys II (C-)
  65. Bad Santa (B)
  66. Balto (B)
  67. Bambi (B)
  68. Band of Brothers [HBO Miniseries] (A+)
  69. Batman (B+)
  70. Batman Returns (D)
  71. Batman Forever (C-)
  72. Batman & Robin (F)
  73. Batman Begins (A-)
  74. Battlefield Earth (F)
  75. The Battle of Algiers (A+)
  76. Beauty and the Beast (A)
  77. Being John Malkovich (A)
  78. Beverly Hills Cop (A)
  79. Beverly Hills Cop II (C)
  80. Bicentennial Man (B+)
  81. Big (B+)
  82. Big Daddy (C-)
  83. Big Fat Liar (B-)
  84. Big Momma's House (C+)
  85. Billy Madison (B+)
  86. The Black Dahlia (C-)
  87. Black Hawk Down (F)
  88. Blade (B)
  89. Blades of Glory (B)
  90. Blank Check (C)
  91. Blood Diamond (B)
  92. Blue Streak (C+)
  93. Bonnie and Clyde (A+)
  94. Boogie Nights (A)
  95. The Boondock Saints (B+)
  96. Borat (A+)
  97. Born on the Fourth of July (A)
  98. The Bourne Identity (B)
  99. The Bourne Supremacy (A-)
  100. Bowling for Columbine (A)
  101. Brick (A-)
  102. Bridge to Terabithia (B)
  103. Brokeback Mountain (A+)
  104. Bruce Almighty (B)
  105. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (A)
  106. Cape Fear (B+)
  107. Capote (A)
  108. Cars (A)
  109. Casablanca (A+)
  110. Casino (A-)
  111. Casino Royale (A-)
  112. Cast Away (B+)
  113. Cellular (B)
  114. Changing Lanes (A-)
  115. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (A)
  116. Chicken Little (C)
  117. Children of Men (A+)
  118. Chinatown (A+)
  119. The Chronicles of Narnia (C)
  120. Cinderella (B)
  121. Cinderella Man (A)
  122. Cinema Paradiso (A+)
  123. Citizen Kane (A+)
  124. City of God (A+)
  125. Click (D+)
  126. Close Encounters of the Third King (A)
  127. Coach Carter (B)
  128. Cold Mountain (A-)
  129. Collateral (A+)
  130. Commando (B+)
  131. Con Air (B)
  132. The Constant Gardener (D+)
  133. The Core (C+)
  134. Corky Romano (C+)
  135. Crank (B+)
  136. Crash (B)
  137. Cry Wolf (B+)
  138. Cube Zero (D-)
  139. Daddy Day Care (C-)
  140. Dante's Peak (C-)
  141. The Da Vinci Code (C)
  142. The Day After Tomorrow (B+)
  143. The Day the Earth Stood Still (A)
  144. Deep Impact (B)
  145. Déjá Vú (B+)
  146. Demolition Man (C)
  147. The Departed (A+)
  148. Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (C)
  149. Die Another Day (C)
  150. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (B+)
  151. Dogtown and Z-Boys (A)
  152. Do the Right Thing (A+)
  153. Downfall (A+)
  154. Dreamgirls (A-)
  155. Dr. Dolittle (B-)
  156. Dr. Dolittle 2 (C-)
  157. Dr. Stangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (A-)
  158. Dude, Where's My Car (C+)
  159. The Dukes of Hazzard (C-)
  160. Dumb and Dumber (B+)
  161. Easy Rider (F)
  162. Elephant (A+)
  163. Elf (C+)
  164. The Emperor's New Groove (A-)
  165. Employee of the Month (C-)
  166. Enemy of the State (B)
  167. Equilibrium (C)
  168. Erin Brokovich (B-)
  169. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (A+)
  170. Eurotrip (B)
  171. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (A+)
  172. Exit Wounds (C-)
  173. Face/Off (C+)
  174. Facing the Giants (B-)
  175. Fahrenheit 911 (B)
  176. Fantastic Four (C+)
  177. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (B-)
  178. The Fast and the Furious (B-)
  179. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (B+)
  180. Finding Nemo (A-)
  181. Fight Club (A+)
  182. Firewall (B-)
  183. The Firm (B-)
  184. First Blood (B+)
  185. Flags of Our Fathers (C-)
  186. Flatliners (B+)
  187. Flubber (B-)
  188. The Fountain (A+)
  189. Forrest Gump (A+)
  190. Frailty (A-)
  191. Friday Night Lights (A)
  192. The Fugitive (A)
  193. Gangs of New York (A-)
  194. Garden State (A-)
  195. Garfield 2 (C+)
  196. Get Shorty (B+)
  197. Ghost (B)
  198. Ghostbusters (C+)
  199. Ghost Rider (D)
  200. The Girl Next Door (B+)
  201. Gladiator (A)
  202. Glengarry Glen Ross (A)
  203. Glory (B)
  204. The Godfather (A+)
  205. Godzilla (C+)
  206. Goodfellas (B)
  207. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (A+)
  208. Good Night, and Good Luck. (A-)
  209. The Good Shepherd (A)
  210. Good Will Hunting (A+)
  211. Grand Hotel (A-)
  212. The Green Mile (B+)
  213. Gridiron Gang (B)
  214. Grindhouse (A)
  215. Groundhog Day (A-)
  216. Half Nelson (A)
  217. Half Past Dead (F)
  218. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (B)
  219. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (B)
  220. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (A-)
  221. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (A)
  222. Heat (A+)
  223. Hellboy (B)
  224. Hercules (B)
  225. Hidalgo (D-)
  226. High Fidelity (A-)
  227. High Noon (A)
  228. Hitch (B)
  229. Hollywoodland (B)
  230. Home Alone (B+)
  231. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (B)
  232. Home Alone 3 (C)
  233. Hook (C-)
  234. Hoosiers (B+)
  235. Hot Fuzz (A-)
  236. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (C)
  237. Hulk (D)
  238. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (B)
  239. The Hunt for Red October (B)
  240. Hustle & Flow (A-)
  241. The Incredibles (A+)
  242. The Indian in the Cupboard (C)
  243. I, Robot (B+)
  244. Independence Day (B)
  245. In Good Company (B+)
  246. Inside Man (B)
  247. In the Line of Fire (A-)
  248. The Iron Giant (A)
  249. The Island (B)
  250. The Italian Job (B)
  251. It's a Wonderful Life (A)
  252. Jackass: Number Two (A)
  253. Jarhead (A-)
  254. Jaws (A+)
  255. Jerry Maguire (A)
  256. Jesus Christ Superstar (A)
  257. Jingle All the Way (D)
  258. John Q. (B)
  259. Joy Ride (B+)
  260. Jurassic Park (B+)
  261. Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World (D)
  262. Jurassic Park 3 (D)
  263. The Jungle Book (A)
  264. The Karate Kid (B-)
  265. Kill Bill Vol. I (C)
  266. Kill Bill Vol. II (A)
  267. Kingdom of Heaven (C)
  268. King Kong [1933] (A)
  269. King Kong [2005] (A+)
  270. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (A)
  271. Knocked Up (A+)
  272. LA Confidential (A-)
  273. Land of the Dead (C)
  274. The Last Detail (B)
  275. The Last King of Scotland (A-)
  276. The Last Samurai (A-)
  277. Layer Cake (B)
  278. Legally Blonde (B-)
  279. The Legend of Bagger Vance (A)
  280. Lethal Weapon (A)
  281. Lethal Weapon 2 (B)
  282. Lethal Weapon 3 (B)
  283. Lethal Weapon 4 (C+)
  284. Letters from Iwo Jima (B+)
  285. Liar Liar (B)
  286. The Lion King (A+)
  287. Little Children (A)
  288. The Little Mermaid (B+)
  289. Little Miss Sunshine (A)
  290. The Longest Yard (B+)
  291. The Lookout (B)
  292. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (A+)
  293. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (A+)
  294. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (A+)
  295. Lord of War (A-)
  296. Lost in Translation (A+)
  297. Lucky Number Slevin (B+)
  298. Madagascar (C+)
  299. Magnolia (C)
  300. The Majestic (C)
  301. The Manchurian Candidate (B)
  302. Manhattan (A)
  303. Man on Fire (B-)
  304. March of the Penguins (C+)
  305. Mary Poppins (A)
  306. M*A*S*H (A)
  307. The Mask (C+)
  308. Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World (C)
  309. Match Point (A-)
  310. Matchstick Men (A)
  311. The Matrix (A+)
  312. The Matrix Reloaded (A)
  313. The Matrix Revolutions (A)
  314. Me, Myself, and Irene (C)
  315. Mean Girls (B+)
  316. The Medicine Man (C-)
  317. Meet Joe Black (B+)
  318. Meet the Parents (C+)
  319. Meet the Fockers (B)
  320. Memento (A+)
  321. Men in Black (B+)
  322. Men in Black II (B+)
  323. Miami Vice (A)
  324. Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers (A+)
  325. Million Dollar Baby (A+)
  326. Minority Report (A)
  327. Miracle (B)
  328. Mission: Impossible (B)
  329. M:I 2 (B)
  330. M:I 3 (B+)
  331. Modern Times (A)
  332. Money Talks (B-)
  333. Monsters, Inc. (B+)
  334. Mouse Hunt (B)
  335. Mr. and Mrs. Smith (B-)
  336. Mr. Holland's Opus (B)
  337. Mrs. Doubtfire (C)
  338. Muhammad Ali: Through the Eyes of the World (B+)
  339. Mulholland Dr. (A+)
  340. The Mummy (B-)
  341. The Mummy Returns (B-)
  342. Munich (A)
  343. Music & Lyrics (B)
  344. Mystic River (B-)
  345. Nacho Libre (C)
  346. Napolean Dynamite (C)
  347. Nashville (A+)
  348. National Treasure (B-)
  349. Natural Born Killers (B)
  350. The Negotiator (B-)
  351. Network (A)
  352. Next Friday (D-)
  353. Not Another Teen Movie (B)
  354. The Notebook (B)
  355. Notes on a Scandal (A-)
  356. Nothing to Lose (C+)
  357. Ocean's Eleven (A+)
  358. Ocean's Twelve (B)
  359. Ocean's Thirteen (A)
  360. Oldboy (A)
  361. Once Upon a Time in Mexico (B)
  362. The One (D)
  363. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (A-)
  364. On Golden Pond (A)
  365. On the Waterfront (A)
  366. Orange County (B)
  367. Osmosis Jones (B-)
  368. Out of Time (B)
  369. Over the Hedge (B)
  370. The Parent Trap (B-)
  371. Pan's Labyrinth (B)
  372. Passenger 57 (D)
  373. Pearl Harbor (B-)
  374. The Pelican Brief (B)
  375. The Perfect Storm (B)
  376. Phone Booth (B)
  377. Pirates of the Caribbean (A)
  378. Pirates of the Caribbean 2 (C-)
  379. Planet of the Apes [2001] (C)
  380. The Player (A+)
  381. The Polar Express (A-)
  382. Poseidon (C)
  383. The Prestige (A)
  384. The Prince of Egypt (A-)
  385. The Princess Bride (A-)
  386. The Princess Diaries (D)
  387. Pulp Fiction (A+)
  388. The Punisher (B)
  389. The Pursuit of Happyness (A-)
  390. The Queen (A-)
  391. Raging Bull (A+)
  392. Raiders of the Lost Ark (A+)
  393. Rain Man (A+)
  394. Rambo: First Blood Pt. II (C)
  395. Ransom (B-)
  396. Rashomon (A)
  397. Rat Race (C)
  398. Ray (A+)
  399. The Recruit (B-)
  400. Red Eye (C+)
  401. Reign of Fire (C+)
  402. Remember the Titans (A-)
  403. Reservoir Dogs (A)
  404. Robin Hood (B+)
  405. Robocop (B+)
  406. The Rock (A-)
  407. Rocky (A+)
  408. Rocky Balboa (B)
  409. The Rookie (C)
  410. The Rugrats Movie (B-)
  411. Rush Hour (C+)
  412. Rush Hour 2 (D)
  413. Sahara (C+)
  414. The Sandlot (B)
  415. The Santa Clause (B)
  416. The Santa Clause 2 (B)
  417. Saving Private Ryan (A+)
  418. Saving Silverman (B-)
  419. Saw (B)
  420. Scarface (B+)
  421. Scary Movie (B+)
  422. Scary Movie 2 (F+)
  423. Scary Movie 3 (B+)
  424. Scary Movie 4 (C-)
  425. Scent of a Woman (B)
  426. Scooby-Doo (F)
  427. Scoop (B+)
  428. The Scorpion King (D)
  429. School of Rock (B+)
  430. Seabiscuit (B)
  431. The Secret (A+)
  432. The Secret Window (B)
  433. Se7en (A)
  434. Shark Tale (C+)
  435. Shattered Glass (A)
  436. Shaun of the Dead (B+)
  437. The Shawshank Redemption (A+)
  438. Shrek (A)
  439. Shrek 2 (A-)
  440. Sideways (A)
  441. Signs (D)
  442. Sin City (A)
  443. The Sixth Sense (C)
  444. Sleepless in Seattle (B+)
  445. Smokin' Aces (B)
  446. Snakes on a Plane (B+)
  447. Snatch (B+)
  448. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (B+)
  449. Solaris (A)
  450. The Specialist (D)
  451. Speed (A)
  452. Spider-Man (C+)
  453. Spider-Man 2 (B+)
  454. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (B)
  455. Spy Kids (B-)
  456. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (B)
  457. Star Wars Episode II: The Attack of the Clones (B)
  458. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (A)
  459. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (A+)
  460. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (A+)
  461. Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi (A+)
  462. The Sting (A)
  463. Stuart Little (B+)
  464. Stuart Little 2 (B+)
  465. The Sum of All Fears (B)
  466. Superman (B+)
  467. Superman Returns (A)
  468. S.W.A.T. (B-)
  469. Swordfish (B-)
  470. The Sword in the Stone (B)
  471. Syriana (B-)
  472. The Talented Mr. Ripley (A)
  473. Talladega Nights (C+)
  474. The Terminal (A-)
  475. The Terminator (B+)
  476. Terminator 2 (A+)
  477. Terminator 3 (B)
  478. Thank You For Smoking (C+)
  479. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (F)
  480. There's Something About Mary (B)
  481. The Thin Red Line (A+)
  482. The Third Man (B+)
  483. Thirteen Days (B+)
  484. This Film Is Not Yet Rated (A-)
  485. Three Kings (A-)
  486. Titanic (A)
  487. To Kill a Mockingbird (A)
  488. Top Gun (B-)
  489. Total Recall (B+)
  490. Tough Guys (C+)
  491. Toy Story (A+)
  492. Toy Story 2 (A)
  493. Traffic (A)
  494. Training Day (A)
  495. The Transporter (B-)
  496. Transporter 2 (B-)
  497. Troy (B+)
  498. True Lies (B)
  499. The Truman Show (A+)
  500. Turner and Hooch (B-)
  501. U-571 (C)
  502. Unbreakable (A)
  503. Undercover Brother (B-)
  504. Under Siege (B+)
  505. Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (D)
  506. Unforgiven (B+)
  507. United 93 (A+)
  508. The Untouchables (B+)
  509. The Usual Suspects (A+)
  510. Vanilla Sky (B)
  511. V for Vendetta (A)
  512. Waking Life (A+)
  513. Walk the Line (B+)
  514. War of the Worlds (A)
  515. Wargames (B)
  516. The Waterboy (C-)
  517. Wedding Crashers (A-)
  518. The Wedding Planner (D)
  519. Wes Craven's New Nightmare (B)
  520. The Weather Man (A-)
  521. West Side Story (A-)
  522. What Women Want (B-)
  523. When Harry Met Sally... (A+)
  524. White Chicks (C-)
  525. White Men Can't Jump (B)
  526. Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (A+)
  527. The Whole Nine Yards (C)
  528. Wild Wild West (C-)
  529. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (D)
  530. Witness (D)
  531. The Wizard of Oz (A+)
  532. World Trade Center (A-)
  533. X-Men (B)
  534. X2: X-Men United (A)
  535. X-Men: The Last Stand (B+)
  536. XXX (C+)
  537. XXX: State of the Union (C)
  538. You, Me & Dupree (C)
  539. Zodiac (A-)
  540. Zoolander (B)