Kingdom of Heaven (2005) - An historic epic adventure about a man thrust into the decades long war of the crusades in the 12th century. Ridley Scott needs to return to Character Development 101 and dispense with the actions scenes we’ve all seen done better elsewhere. Average

Die Höhle des gelben Hundes (Cave of the Yellow Dog) (2005) - Mongolian films can be a hard sell (think: Weeping Camel), but this Best Foreign Language Film contender is surprisingly uplifting. The pace can be slow and deliberate as it captures the simplicity and beauty of nomadic culture and the rich characters, but the experience is fulfulling and the landscapes and cinematography are amonst the highlights. Recommended

Don’t Come Calling (2005) - Wim Wenders, what has become of you? This from writer/director team that 20 years earlier brought us Paris, Texas? I couldn’t tolerate more than 20 minutes of the awkward acting and stilted screenplay. However, I did enjoy what I heard of the soundtrack, so perhaps Wenders hasn’t completely lost all talent. Avoid

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) - The most nonsensical and boring of the series thus far. Things certainly have taken a creative dive since the previous Cuaron directed episode. This was the first time I haven't sat through the entirety of a film in a very long time. Avoid

El Aura (The Aura) (2005) - This is the second (and unfortunately last) film from Argentinean director Fabián Bielinsky (Nueva Reinas was his debut). It's a taut noir-like crime thriller about a taxidermist who plans the perfect crime. There is much conjecture about how much of what you see happening is real - all I will say is it does not disappoint. Recommended

Habana Blues (2005) - A sincere attempt to capture the spirit of the Cuban way of life by following a group of rock musicians struggling to make the big time. It has an authentic feel that doesn't distort or glorify the realities of life in modern Cuba. Recommended

Breakfast on Pluto (2005) - Neil Jordan serves up Cillian Murphy as a character called 'Kitten' in a coming of age trans-gender tale. It sounds like a great premise right? Wrong. Average

49 Up (2005) - This is the first in Michael Apted's documentary series (seven parts to date) that I have seen. It's a fascinating sociological study to 'check in' on a group of individuals over their entire lives - I would love to see parallel projects in other countries. Recommended

The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2005) - To me, Johnston's music is not appealing, and at times truly awful. This would have made an even better mockumentary were it not a true story. I did feel sorry for him because it seems every single person in his life has exploited him. But the story is indeed fascinating and watching this doco did lead me to immediately pick up me guitar - so it gets credit for being inspiring.  Recommended

Hard Candy (2005) - A revenge thriller that is more of a character study than the clever psychological cat and mouse tale it wants to be. The performances are ok, but it was all too scripted for my liking. Average

The Chumscrubber (2005) - Sometimes I persevere through films that a clearly not going to offer a payoff. This dark satire on suburban life is a good example of this. Though interesting in concept, it fails to show sincerity and ends up exemplifying a Hollywood story that tries too hard to be indie.  Average

Domino (2005) - Tony Scott goes so far over the top in a style over substance action film that the result is almost incomprehensible. I'm not a Keira Knightley hater, but this was the most annoying narration I have ever heard in a film. Avoid

Sorstalanság (Fateless) (2005) - A powerful Hungarian film centering on a young boy who is put through the Nazi forced labour camps in World War II. Highly recommended for it's alternate angle on the events and strong performances. Recommended

C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005) - I recommend this film not because it is great (it's clearly flawed and muddled in places), but because there are enough brilliant moments of sight and sound to make it a cult classic. Nice job on acquiring the music rights! Recommended

Bosque de sombras (The Backwoods) (2005) - Borrowing so heavily from Straw Dogs and Deliverence that there is nothing original to appreciate in this Gary Oldman lead film, set in the backwoods of rural Spain. Average

Be Cool (2005) - Frivolous, but entertaining sequel to Get Shorty. It's a wasted effort from such a stellar cast. Average

Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont (2005) - This is the sort of quaint, low-key society drama that could only come out of England. A look into the friendship between an elderly lady and a sensitive young man. Recommended

Oliver Twist (2005) - Here is the proof that Sir David Lean was an absolute genius - because 50 years ago he made a far superior version in every aspect. That's not to say Polanski failed here - he just didn't make a memorable Dickens classic. Average

I Am a Sex Addict (2005) - Autobiographical comedy about an annoying, self obsessed, recovering sex addict whose story is genuinely tedious and uninteresting. Avoid

Factotum (2005) - Matt Dillon is slightly miscast in the lead role of this Charles Bukowski based film about a wandering writer scraping by in life. There's a lot to like, but the sum total isn't something I would recommend. Average

Manderlay (2005) - Lars von Trier's controversial followup to Dogville is an equally challenging and fascinating study in film performance. I'm already looking forward to the final chapter in the trilogy. Recommended

Colour Me Kubrick (2005) - The true..ish tale of Alan Conway, the conman who impersonated Stanley Kubrick for a period during the nineties. It's a mostly enjoyable watch but nothing exceptional. Average

A Cock and Bull Story (2005) - Michael Winterbottom films the unfilmable novel. Steve Coogan is great as usual and the inside jokes and banter is delivered in deadpan style making for a fascinating take on the film industry. Recommended

Everything is Illuminated (2005) - I'm still trying to figure out why I wasn't impressed by what appears to be a great story. I'm going to blame Elijah Wood - he's just annoying - and the emotional weight of the film is never carried by the performance. Average

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) - I'm not a fan of the genre, but regardless this one appears to be strictly for the kids as the acting and effects are both horribly artificial and pretentious. Average

The Aristocrats (2005) - More of a curiosity than anything else. One hundred "superstar" comedians reflect on the same joke made famous from Vaudeville days. Average

Le Couperet (The Ax) (2005) - Great little subversive French comedy about a man who eliminates potential threats to a future job prospect. Recommended

Just Like Heaven (2005) - Kind of lame romantic comedy, but thanks to Reese Witherspoon it's cute in places and therefore not a complete waste of time.  Average

The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005) - While not as great a Judd Apatow's followup film 'Knocked Up', the humor and timing is well executed and Steve Carell was the perfect choice for lead. Recommended

Derailed (2005) - An all too predictable, ill-cast and poorly scripted thriller with Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston playing a couple who have an affair and the blackmail that results. Average

House of Wax (2005) - A remake in name only of the Vincent Price original. It's everything you would expect from a teen horror featuring Paris Hilton and probably shouldn't be too harshly regarded given it plays by all the rules of the horror genre. Average

The Ringer (2005) - Juvenile and unfunny politically incorrect film about a man who rigs the Special Olympics to gain money for him and his uncle. Avoid

Iluminados por el fuego (Blessed By Fire) (2005) - Argentinian film about the Fawklands/Malvinas and the aftermath of an affected soldiers life. Average

Hostel (2005) - Backpackers in Eastern Europe find out they are part of a macabre game. Basically a low brow soft porn slasher flick. Avoid

Hide and Seek (2005) - Deniro and Dakota Fanning thriller. You need to put up with a lot before it gets interesting and even then fizzles out into nothing original. Average

The Cave (2005) - Formulaic macho junk film playing on Alien(s)/Abyss genre. Avoid

Hustle and Flow (2005) - Fascinating story of the rise of a hip hop star and his redemption. Powerful, entertaining and engaging. Recommended

Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) - Another winning stop motion film from Nick Park & Co. Amongst the best in the genre. Recommended

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) - Tommy Lee Jones hits on a winning western adventure formula. From writer Guillermo Arriaga (Babel, 21 Grams).  Recommended

Walk The Line (2005) - After seeing this I was a little staggered to learn that Joaquin and Reese performed all of the songs themselves. Great performances doing justice to two music legends. The film is flawed however, there are long periods where nothing interesting happens, but overall worth a watch. Recommended

The Proposition (2005) - A great little unconventional Australian western written by Nick Cave. Bleak and unrelenting with a universally excellent cast. Recommended

Joyeux Noel (2005) - Rec. A retelling of the true events on Christmas Eve 1914 when the Germans, French, and Scottish made peace and played football. A little sentimental at times, but a good watch. Recommended

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) - I'm starting to lose paitence with Tim Burton. Despite a few good moments this is a remake with very little new to offer. Average

Wedding Crashers (2005) - No synopsis necessary in this highly predictable Owen Wilson & Vince Vaughn outing. Entertaining enough, but undeserving of the high regard it has established. Average

The Constant Gardener (2005) - A well constructed film, but a cliche ridden plot that appeals to people who want to believe that evil is as easy to identify in life as in comic books. Rachel Weisz' character irked me to despair. Average

Tau man ji D (Initial D) (2005) - Hong Kong adaption of a well known Manga series. Plays out like a music video where the subject is downhill drift racing. It's light and entertaining with some slick visual editing. Average

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005) - The story behind the collapse and scandal of Enron corporation and an analysis of the people who played the key roles. It's a little dry at times and can be difficult for someone not already familiar with the incident, but a great study of human nature nonetheless. Recommended

The World's Fastest Indian (2005) - Hopkins' performance was first class as always, but I can't help but feel let down by a fanciful script that removes everything genuine about Burt Munro and leaves us with a series of parodies that add up to very little. Average

Madagascar (2005) - The latest Dreamworks Animation film is a good indication of how far behind Pixar this studio is. While certainly targetted more towards kids, some of the humour works on many levels, but generally underwhelming as a whole. Average

Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005) - A well-meaning independent film about people trying to connect with each other. I had heard good things about it, but I just couldn't enjoy it - the main characters were too annoying. Average

Thank You For Smoking (2005) - Highly entertaining and satirical look at today's culture of political spin. Great performances and a script packed with politically incorrect wit make this one of the best of the year. Recommended

Corpse Bride (2005) - Visually spectacular stop-motion feature from the ghoulish mind of Tim Burton. Some of the comedy is obvious, but the visuals make up for any weakness in what is actually not a bad love story. Recommended

Happy Endings (2005) - Ensemble casted working that popular "multiple intertwining storylines" genre. None of which however are interesting, and none of the characters are particularly likeable. Maggie Gyllenhaal is the only good thing here. Average

Thumbsucker (2005) - Debut film from Mike Mills is a quirky tale about a 17 year old breaking his habit of thumbsucking. Great soundtrack featuring Elliott Smith. Recommended

Syriana (2005) - A political commentary on the state of the oil industry. Well told and not as heavy handed as I had imagined. Clooney took the Oscar. Recommended

The Weather Man (2005) - Nicolas Cage plays a troubled weather man trying to make sense of the life he is leading and the problems with his family life. Odd tonal shifts make it difficult to discern the real meaning - that life is unpredictable like the weather. Average

Match Point (2005) - Woody Allen's take on the rotten underbelly of upper class British society. Great suspense piece and Allen's best in many years. Recommended

Red Eye (2005) - I'm not sure why I felt compelled to catch this recent Wes Craven outing. It's entertaining enough, but solid B Grade performances throughout and despite a promising first half, ends in ridiculous fashion.  Average

Mr and Mrs Smith (2005) - It's lucky for the Smith family that I saw The Da Vinci Code a couple of months ago, because here we have a strong candidate for the worst film I have seen this year. Avoid

Brokeback Mountain (2005) - Ang Lee develops this simple story about two people into a moving social commentary.  Recommended

Shopgirl (2005) - A Steve Martin written "quirky" romantic comedy. Not exceptional - but Martin's best work in years. Recommended

Elizabethtown (2005) - Cameron Crowe's latest is a major let down after a run of making so many influential classics. Although very watchable, the film is just a jumbled mess in general. Start by cutting out Susan Sarandon. Avoid

Serenity (2005) - An incoherant mess of a film. I'm sure Joss Whedon fans went ga-ga but this just is not my thing.  Avoid

Cache (Hidden) (2005) - This is my fourth Michael Haneke film. It's always an unsettling experience as he plays on your every emotion.  Recommended

Constantine (2005) - I had thought this was going to be more "kick-ass" but it sadly fell a bit flat. Plenty of style, not so much substance.  Average

V For Vendetta (2005) - Overlong and a little over self-important action/crime drama from the writers of The Matrix. Showed immense promise in the early stages but exited in an unsatisfying manner. Average

Lord Of War (2005) - Nicolas Cage plays an international arms dealer in loosely fact based crime thriller. Disappointing only because of what it could have been, but nonetheless it's a journey worth taking. Recommended

A History Of Violence (2005) - With wider appeal than his usaul stable of fans, the unique vision of David Cronenberg has created a dark and humorous thriller with Peckinpah style violence and class. Recommended

Hitch (2005) - A major box office success but as far as romantic comedies go, this one has a complete lack of genuine emotional depth. Average

Jarhead (2005) - Sam Mendes looks at a group of Desert Storm marines and their disconnection from their American lives and alienation in a foreign land. Recommended

The Longest Yard (2005) - Just another Adam Sandler bomb. This time however, it is an unwatchable bomb. Avoid

Munich (2005) - Spielberg shows enough restraint to make this his best work since Saving Private Ryan. Based on the true story of the Black September aftermath in the early seventies. Recommended

Fun With Dick and Jane (2005) - Just not funny. Nothing made sense. Avoid

Robots (2005) - Unlike the Pixar brand of animated comedy, Robots lacks the wider appeal - and oddly, this may even be too scary for some kids. The superb detail and sound kept my interest. Average

King Kong (2005) - Despite the spectacular cinematography/CG imagery, Jackson's version somehow falls short on drama and lacks the wonder and awe of the 1933 original. Average

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) - Superb modern new noir murder mystery. If a film like this can be made for just $15m then I'll take 14 of these over one King Kong! Recommended

The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse (2005) - A disappointing conclusion to the brilliant british comedy series. Still plenty to enjoy for hardcore fans. Average

Assault On Precinct 13 (2005) - I was surprised to discover this to be the worst action film I have seen in a long time. Completely unconvincing, absurd and ridiculous remake with overplayed stereotypes and a weak ending. Avoid

The Interpreter (2005) - Haven't we seen enough drawn out thrillers leading to a thwarted assasination attempt? I'm starting to tire of Sean Penn. It looks like he phoned this one in. Average

Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story! (2005) - Fans of the Family Guy series will not be disappointed with this feature length animated film. The trademark brand of humour is back in brilliant form. Recommended

War of the Worlds (2005) - Nothing new here, which is a shame because the potential was enormous. Industry leading special effects count for nothing when the script is lacking emotion and life. Average

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) - Not since 1996's Independence Day have I seen a sci-fi movie this bad. Completely misses the mark. Avoid