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> My choice: The Matrix
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> The first thing a lot of people say is it's original, but it's really not. It just steals a bunch of japanime and manga cliches. It's strength in that it takes the BEST from japanime, and for the first time, puts it into a real film, with real actors and special fx.

Hrmph. It reminded me more of Philip K. Dick than anime. Except very simplified and silly. Really, the plot bites. The entire movie is about style (as you note), and they felt it okay to just gloss over any sort of "character development" (please explain to me why Trinity and Neo fell in love, other than the plot called for it. I mean, seriously, they had a whopping two conversations before that point).

> The storyline (I think) is decent, but the STYLE and MOOD sets it apart. And you gotta love the direction and acting (of the AGENTS. man oh man they were creepy).

Yeah, but style a great movie does not make. I mean, if you look at it that way, "Dark City" is one of the greatest movies of all time (of course, it does rule, and IMO is better than "The Matrix"). "Matrix" was well filmed and had some incredible action scenes, but I certainly don't think that makes it the best movie of the year.

My personal favorite this year so far is "Dogma" (no big suprise for me), but I'm not going to say it's the best movie released this year. Other picks include "Three Kings", "American Beauty", and "Being John Malkovich." Of course, I've yet to see "Man on the Moon", "Magnolia" or "The Talented Mr. Ripley", all of which look great.

Stephen