Top 10 films in no particular order

2004 was a great year for movies. In 2003, the weekend before I wrote my list was spent racing… 2004 was a great year for movies. In 2003, the weekend before I wrote my list was spent racing back and forth between Blockbuster and my dorm room in a desperate attempt to scrape together 10 decent films, but 2004 finds me bidding a sad farewell to many well-loved movies as I am forced to narrow it down to the best of the best. Though my heart bleeds for the loss of Adam Sandler (“Spanglish” and “50 First Dates”) and a multitude of ditzy chick flicks (“13 Going On 30,” I loved thee well), I think the end result makes the losses acceptable. So, in no particular order, my top 10 movies of 2004 are:

“The Manchurian Candidate”

Director Jonathan Demme’s adaptation of the 1962 original manages to be silly, clever and disturbing all at once. Denzel Washington’s performance in the lead role is fantastic, as usual, and Meryl Streep and Liev Schrieber are frighteningly human in their portrayals of the bad guys.

“The Aviator”

It was only a matter of time before the life of the eccentric Howard Hughes was turned into a film. Thankfully, the right person — Martin Scorsese — got his hands on the project. Though long, this biopic never bores as we follow Hughes’ ascent to the top of the world of aviation and his subsequent fall from grace as he deals with obsessive compulsive disorder. As usual, Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a stunning performance. “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”

Admittedly, I’m a little biased on this one — anyone who knows me can tell you that I’m Harry Potter-obsessed. That said, there’s no question that Azkaban is the best adaptation of a Harry Potter book to date. The kids are finally coming into their own as actors, and brilliant casting keeps the adult characters from falling by the wayside. New director Alfonso Cuaron refreshes the wizarding world, making it darker, grimier and, ultimately, better.

“Before Sunset”

Though admittedly not as good as its predecessor, “Before Sunrise” — after all, it had a lot to live up to — this movie is good. Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke return to their original roles of two tourists who chance upon one another and find love, and they make us fall in love with them all over again. And the question of whether they’ll stay together is finally answered. Kind of.

“Mean Girls”

This film makes me forgive Lindsay Lohan for the abomination that was “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen.” Though extreme, this is the first teen flick in years that viewers can actually relate to. Biting and funny, the writing leaves me hoping for more from “Saturday Night Live” personality Tina Fey in the future.

“The Incredibles”

Disney and Pixar have done it again. “The Incredibles” has great characters, a fast-placed plot and laughs that just keep coming. Writer and director Brad Bird takes the funniest role for himself, voicing Edna Mode, fashion designer to the superheroes. Homage to its action-movie predecessors creates laughs that might go over the kiddies’ heads. The surprise ending is worth waiting for.

“Chasing Liberty”

What, you didn’t think you were making it through this list without any chick flicks at all, did you? This film is great for those who love to travel because it follows its characters’ journeys through Europe. Two romances play out side by side to keep things interesting. Mandy Moore is charming as the president’s daughter Anna, and her CIA boyfriend, Matthew Goode, is someone I wouldn’t mind having baby-sit me.

“Kill Bill Vol 2”

Like “Vol 1,” this movie is awesome. Not that we would expect any less from the stellar team that is Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino. In standard Tarantino fashion, this film features an unbelievable soundtrack and truly impressive fight scenes. The final showdown between Bill and his bride is handled without the gory violence that presides through the rest of the film, giving it a certain amount of class, and the move she uses to finally kill him is fantastic.

“Shrek 2”

This was the year for impressive sequels, and none was more impressive than “Shrek 2.” Heralded by many as being better than the original, this movie delivers all the things we loved about the first movie and more. Homage is paid to other recent blockbusters in a montage scene, and surprising plot twists keep things interesting as we delve back into the fairy-tale world. The stand-out performance comes from Antonio Banderas as the Zorro-esque and oh-so-adorable Puss in Boots.

“Garden State”

This film caused critics to praise writer/director Zach Braff as the next big thing, and it’s no wonder. “Garden State” is poignant and funny, with a dry wit and macabre sense of humor. The visual humor shows Braff’s gift for direction. The romance between the characters portrayed by Braff and Natalie Portman is understated but touching. Portman’s performance is her best to date (or at least it was until “Closer” came out) and the ensemble cast delivers.

‘ So there you have it — 10 great films, according to me. It’s important to note, however, that while 2004 was a great year for movies, it wasn’t without its abysmal failures. This year saw movies that were over-hyped and under-inspired (“The Village”). There was the religious fanatic’s dream come true in “The Passion of the Christ,” a film that was completely undeserving of the media attention it got, as well as the controversy that surrounded it. And then there was “Van Helsing,” a movie that was just, well, a mistake. All in all though, it was a pretty good year for movies.