Best 21st Century Film

[charliepanayi]

While I wouldn't put the Lord of the Rings films as my absolute favourite of 2000-onwards, they would be up there. Not least because fantasy and film don't usually mix at all (as the legions of fantasy adaptations that have come along before and since demonstrate).

[Shiny]

I second Children of Men and Pan's Labyrinth. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is less allegorical, but still in my top ten favorites of all time so that of course is on my list as well. Inception not so much for the bulltrout story, but for the groundbreaking set design and special effects.

Other notable mentions: Amelie, A Beautiful Mind, Ichi the Killer

Those were all from 2001. Such a fantastic year for filmmaking that was. Yoda I am.

From 2002: City of God. I am stopping here.

[Laddy]

City of God, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Lost In Translation, Lord of the Rings, Spirited Away, No Country for Old Men, Amelie, Requiem for a Dream, Children of Men, Looper, Memento, Hotel Rwanda, Inglorious Basterds, Oldboy, Up, and Donnie Darko are some other personal choices.

This was a very underrated period for sci-fi and fantasy films.

[The Man]

The first post got it right. It's Pan's Labyrinth.

There have been a lot of other great films - LotR, Children of Men, No Country for Old Men, etc. - but Pan's Labyrinth managed a level of artistic achievement that no other film I've seen from the past thirteen years has managed.

[Scotty_ffgamer]

I really need to watch Pan's Labyrinth again. It's been a while since I've seen it, but I remember it being extremely good.

[Rantz]

I never realised Children of Men was so well liked before now. I just thought it was okay, but didn't stick out to me at all as anything special.

[The Captain]

The cinematography in Children of Men is utterly top notch and it has an underrated, low-key world building element which has become more and more popular in the years since it came out.

Take care all.

[Spuuky]

I don't know what to say to people who think Donnie Darko is in contention to be the best movie of this century so far, except that they should probably watch better movies.

And suggestions like Lost in Translation are straight out, because, regardless of anything else, a movie must at least be interesting to be the best movie.

I'm surprised people like Oldboy so much. It's pretty good, but I've seen better Korean Revenge Dramas. Since 95% of Korean movies are about vengeance anyway. I'm not even sure Oldboy is the best movie in its own trilogy.

[Del Murder]

What do they call people who critique others' selections without making one of their own?

[Calliope]

Well I don't know, Del Murder, what do they call people who critique others' selections without making one of their own?

Handsome, probably.

[Del Murder]

No that wasn't it.

[Calliope]

Well, feel free to tell us, then.

EDIT - Upon further consideration, I would say Man on Wire, followed by The Bridge, Kung Fu Hustle and Ocean's Eleven.

[Shiny]

The cinematography in Children of Men is utterly top notch and it has an underrated, low-key world building element which has become more and more popular in the years since it came out.

Take care all.

Not just the cinematography, but also the storytelling and the editing. There were shots that seemed continuous, but were actually the magic of the editor. So much symbolism in the film. Also it's the best I've seen Clive Owen, but he was also good in Closer.

[Shorty]

And Sin City! But in agreement, Children of Men is his best.