Pat Wick's Top Ten

This was much harder than I thought it would be. I mean how do you take such different movies and rank them on the same scale? That said...

1. Magnolia
   I found this to be one of the most riveting movies I have ever seen. It is a story of 10 people and redemption. What I find almost more interesting is how other people react to this movie. It has made every critics top/bottom 10 list I have seen. Some put it in the top of the top or the bottom of the bottom. Some complain that it ties up too neatly, others complain that it doesn't tie up the loose ends at all. The movie makes you uncomfortable. I thought it was brilliant.
   
   
2. American Beauty
   This shows me yet again how well Kevin Spacy can act. To say that is a bit unfair to the rest of the cast. The story was so well told that I had no idea how it was going to end (I say this because to be more specific would be to tell you that 'Rosebud' was a sled -- and I hate reading spoilers, so I don't write them). I mean that when you see a Meg Ryan romantic comedy are you at all shocked that they end up together? In this I knew where it was going, but did not know how it was going to get there.
   
   
3. The Sixth Sense
   As I sat there watching the movie I remember thinking to myself "what a good movie." When the end hit me like a ton of bricks I changed that to "what a GREAT movie." I agree with Jeremy in the fact that this is one of the most respected movies; when someone has said they haven't seen the movie the only thing they are told is go see it. No spoilers. How often does that happen?
   
   
4. The Matrix
   Yes, it has excellent effects. Yes, shockingly, Keanu does not suck. But the plot and script are also excellent. The more you see it the more you realize how good the script is. An example, every single thing the Oracle says comes true or Neo's boss at the beginning and the discussion of choices.
   
   
5. Toy Story 2
   Better than Toy Story. A great movie in any medium.
   
   
6. Run, Lola, Run
   German movie along the lines of Sliding Doors. How little things can change your entire life, or someone next to you. The more you watch it the more you see.
   
   
7. Galaxy Quest
   A great parody of the sci-fi genre as well as poking fun of some of the geeks at the 'dog and pony' conventions Paramount brings through town. It is also a better Star Trek story than the last 6 of them. The villain is better and the characters are real (and they grow by the end of the last reel). Laugh out loud funny ("Don't you people ever WATCH your own show?!?").
   
   
8. Dogma
   This is a movie that I give great Kudos' to. It is gutsy in this day and age to take on Christianity. Yet by the end of the movie you realize it is merely attacking the dogma but holds the faith (read 'idea') in astonishingly pure light. Kevin Smith is a better scriptwriter than director though and would do well to give the reins over on his next picture.
   
   
9. Fantasia 2000
   The biggest complaint I have is that it is TOO SHORT. There are only eight cartoons in it (one of them is recycled from the original Fantasia). They run the gamut from impressionistic to serious to silly fun. The artists have put in something for everyone. A lot of critics have complained that the introductions to the shorts are distracting and don't need to be there. I disagree, I look at this film with the heart of a kid. They are fun and educating at the same time.
   
   
10. Topsy-Turvy
    An English film about Gilbert & Sullivan and the making of "The Mikado". I found it delightful. You learned about how different they were as people and the kind of life they led. I also liked how they showed the lives of the actors and theatre managers along with how England itself was changing with the times.