2004 in Film. Between about 1982 and 1990, I saw and reviewed at least 2 movies a week for public radio and public access TV. This year I probably saw fewer movies in the theatre than ever before. Normally, I would do a top ten film list for the year, but I don't think I even saw 10 films upon their original release this year. so in lieu of a top ten list, I'm going to list what I saw, and sort of put them in an order of preference.
Finding Neverland. I actually saw this on 1/2/05, but it's a 2004 release. A magical, heartwarming, beautiful film about art, hope and the imagination. If I had anything to say about it, this would win the 2004 Best Picture Oscar.
Spider Man 2. Simply the best superhero movie to date. Grand, compelling and nearly operatic in its melodrama. A comic book fan's dream come true.
Hero. I actually saw this on DVD 2 years before its American theatrical release, but I'll count it anyway. Beautiful, exciting and thought provoking. Much more interesting than Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. A fantastic variant on the martial arts film.
Spanglish. A wonderful dramedy with believable characters. The emotional situations in this film are very realistic and very relatable to most people, even if you can't relate to the upper class lifestyle of the main family. Adam Sandler has never been better or more subdued, and Paz Vega is the most gorgeous woman on the face of the earth as well as a spectacular actress. She may only be eligible for supporting actress, but give this woman an award NOW!

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. A very strange movie that has really grown inside my brain since I first saw it. Funny, touching, weird, and highly original.

Shaun of the Dead. The britcom meets the zombie movie, with hilarious results. Side-splittingly funny, tense and exciting all at once. Goes a bit over the top on the gore at one point, and the zombie attacks diminish the laughs toward the end, but a very fun film nonetheless.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. A wonderful blend of teen angst and light horror elements, great teen actors and just-dark-enough-direction from Alfonso Cuaron make this a pleasant surprise.
What the Bleep do We Know? Okay, the backlash on this film is in full blast, but whether you accept the film's scientific and philosophical views or not, you have to admit it is skilful filmmaking. The blending of talking head documentary, conventional narrative storytelling and computer animation makes for an interesting experience. Ramtha's involvement does bring the film's credibility down a bit, but it is thought-provoking and inspiring nonetheless.
Kill Bill Volume 2. I know I hated the first "part," but this film more than makes up for it. Character, emotion, and plot finally take precedence over action, and Tarentino comes up with a lyrical modern Spaghetti western-inspired revenge saga that owes more than a little to "Once Upon a Time the West." We finally get to see David Carradine as Bill, and he makes a fantastic villain.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. My favorite broad comedy in many moons. It doesn't always work, but it has the guts to go "out there" and achieve some very bizarre inspired moments. Will Ferrell's best screen moments so far.
The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi. My favorite samurai movie character brought back to life by Japanese new wave film maker Takeshi Kitano. The result is a a CGI-laden comedy-musical with copious bloodshed. What the hell was he thinking? An absolute mess. ANY of the Shitaro Katsu original films are better than this.
Worst Movie of the Year:
Laws of Attraction. What a smelly pile of poop this film is! An attempt to do a Cary Grant-style romantic comedy falls flat on its ass by making Pierce Brosnan an obnoxious pratt and Julianne Moore a sub-moronic twit who are both supposed to be the sharpest divorce lawyers in the country. Awful situations, poor writing and totally absent direction. Not believable or interesting for a microsecond. ICK!
That ain't much of a year, but I'm setting a goal of seeing at least 20 films in the theatre this year!