My Favorite Movies of the Decade, Part 1

This is Part 1 of 2 of my favorite movies of the decade. Some major caveats here:

• After 2006 (when my daughter Lena was born), I stopped going to movies in the theater very often
• I mainly see big budget, Hollywood movies
• My favorite movies are typically action movies

So going year-by-year, here's my favorite movies of the decade. Part two will rank my top 20 movies of the decade.

2000
Gladiator - Awesome film, great cinematography.
X-Men - The movie that ushered in the golden era of superhero/comic book movies.
Remember the Titans - The best sports movie of the decade.
Honorable Mention: Cast Away; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

2001
The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings - Started the greatest movie trilogy of all-time
A Beautiful Mind - One of the best dramas of the decade
Honorable Mention: Ocean's Eleven

2002
Spider-Man - Brought the quirky comic to the screen in a wonderful way.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Showed that the trilogy was going to be awesome
My Big Fat Greek Wedding - My favorite romantic comedy of the decade
The Bourne Identity - I never tire of watching this movie
Honorable Mention: Star Wars Episode II: The Clone Wars; Signs; Catch Me If You Can; Road to Perdition; Reign of Fire

2003
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King - Peter Jackson's crowning achievement
Finding Nemo - Pixar keeps rolling.
The Last Samurai - Totally underrated epic.
Honorable Mention: Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl; X2: X-Men United; Seabuiscit; Italian Job; School of Rock; Holes

2004
The Incredibles - Better superhero movie than most live action versions.
Man on Fire - Revenge epic and awesome Denzel
Hellboy - Better movie than you think.
Finding Neverland - Awesome acting, great story.
Honorable Mention: Spider-Man 2; The Bourne Supremacy; National Treasure; Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy; Ray; Cinderella Man; Napolean Dynamite

2005
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - Darth Vader is born.
Batman Begins - Superhero movies move from summer fun to great films.
March of the Penguin - If this documentary doesn't move you, you have no heart.
Honorable Mention: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; Hitch; Walk the Line; Memoirs of a Geisha; The Island; Serenity

2006
Cars - Ca-chow!
Casino Royale - Finally a Bond movie worthy of its heritage.
Children of Men - The most depressing, encouraging, apocalyptic movie of the decade.
Honorable Mention: Night at the Museum; Mission: Impossible III; Dreamgirls; Rocky Balboa; The Prestige

2007
Transformers - Fanboys unite!
The Bourne Ultimatum - Not as good as the original, but darn close.
Juno - Gut busting and touching.
Honorable Mention: I Am Legend

2008
The Dark Knight - RIP Heath Ledger.
Iron Man - Fun, engaging, great.
Honorable Mention: Hancock; The Incredible Hulk

2009
Avatar - One of the greatest movies ever. Yes, I just wrote that.
Star Trek - Maybe even better than Wrath of Khan.
Honorable Mention: X-Men Origins: Wolverine