Well, my girlfriend has been renting all the movies, so I've seen quite a few oddballs. I think the one movie that has really stood out is Apocalypto. I have the Last King of Scotland, but haven't watched it. I liked Casino Royale, but thought the ending was a bit lame. I think Daniel Craig makes a good James Bond, much better than the last few.

There were a couple other's, but I can't remember the names.

Probably one of my favorite fighting/comedies is The Kong Fu Hustle, classic.

videodrome,
Notes on a Scandal was brought home by the wife and turned out to be pretty good.
Lead Acresses are Darne Judy Dench (M in James Bond) and Kate Blanchard.

It is kind of movie that once you start .... you kinda want to keep watching just to see what happens.

Later....

Here's some oddball movies that I would recommend - odd being a fairly loose term...

Pi - B&W indie film
Pan's Labrynth (sp?) - Spanish movie, award winner fantasy movie
Tigerland - another older indie film about army bootcamp in the 60's. Very good acting considering the budget

I also enjoyed these more mainstream movies this year:

Casino Royale
The Illusionist
25th Hour
Beerfest (what can I say, I like to laugh)
The Black Dahlia

Oh...one other recommendation. The Superbit version of The Boat (Das Boot) is a most own for you U-571 fans.

Audio demos:
Serenity (opening credits)
War of the Worlds (DTS) (low-flying jets/field battle sequence)
Lord of the Rings, Return of the King (DD-EX)
Gladiator (DTS-ES) (opening battle sequence)
Saving Private Ryan (opening scene)

Animated category (audio/visual):
The Incredibles (DTS-ES)
Cars
Monsters Inc.

Concert category:
Pink Floyd: Pulse

Indie/Low-budget/Oddball category:
Primer

Garcianc2003,

Saving Private Ryan is a tough movie to watch. I saw it in the theatre for the first time and it hit me hard. The scene where the German and the Jewish kid are struggling and he slowly sticks the knife in his heart is really powerful.

I definitely agree that the opening scene is powerful.

I debated whether to put it on my list, since that is one of two movies I own that I can't really watch. The other one is The Passion of the Christ.

Interesting story, I saw Saving Private Ryan in a theater in Pearl Harbor, HI, a few years before I retired from active duty. The movie theater was thoughtful enough to leave the lights off during the end credits because no one in the audience was in condition to go outside. IMHO the ending was the most powerful part, particularly to anyone with a deep sense of patriotism.

Ironically, this movie which was a technical masterpiece of sound and visuals when it released in 1998, provided the most powerful experience I have ever felt in a movie theater with the close up of an old man's face and the question "have I done enough to deserve this?"

Think what you will. After all, that is your freedom. Those of us in that theatre knew that Private Ryan was everyone of us and that "this" thing, this precious gift that we were given was Freedom. Sorry for getting sentimental. Now you know why I can't watch.

No, totally understand. The movie effected me for a while. I thought the passion was very well done as well.

I never served, but come from a long line of people who have - Saving Private Ryan, for some reason, and also Band of Brothers, hit a nerve with me. The people who served, and who serve, who go through hell on earth to provide this freedom, are truly remarkable people. Sorry for going off-topic, but I fully agree with you guys. I can watch, even as difficult and heart wrenching as those scenes are, because even in those difficult parts, one thing that stands out to me is how the art of filmmaking has the ability to affect the viewer in such a profound way. I just love good films. They're really something special when you "that feeling" watching a production.

RedSIinPA,
You mention Band of brother .....
Really well done - everything: sound, story, visual.