2005 started off looking like it was going to be a pretty uninspired year for movies, but when push came to shove, there was actually a lot of good stuff released. You just had to look a little harder (or wait for DVD) in order to find some of the gems. Here are the ten movies that we found the most enjoyable this year.

10. Rize
Rize is a documentary that captures a strange and amazing cultural movement taking place in South Central L.A. called “krumping”. This is a free-form and confrontational style of dance that grew out of “clown groups” that were formed as a positive alternative to gangs. Weird? You could say that. But also inspirational and thrilling to watch. Directed by trend savvy photographer David LaChappelle, the movie is occasionally over the top but has a visual flare that you don’t often find in documentary films. This is one movie that definitely has to be seen to be believed. — Sean

9. Broken Flowers
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Bill Murray continues to carve out his niche as the downcast middle-aged guy with dour disposition and sardonic wit in this indie flick from Jim Jarmusch. What sets this movie apart from Lost in Translation or The Life Aquatic is the slower pace and road trip context that brings on new and interesting characters at each stop along the way. Funny, often in subtle ways, and thoughtful too; it may frustrate some viewers expecting a laugh out loud comedy, but will touch those viewers who stick with it. — Sean

8. March of the Penguins
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Equal parts cute family film and captivating nature documentary, this movie tells the story of the emperor penguin, a courageous animal forced to battle the harsh climate of antarctica in order to survive. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry… you know the drill. This is a movie that just about anyone will appreciate on some level with its breathtaking cinematography and amusing little facts about the lives of these strange waddling creatures who, incidentally, seem more human than the characters in many other movies you’re likely to have seen this year. — Sean

7. Land of the Dead
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2005 saw a continued resurgence in horror movies that had studios scrambling for any low cost/high return projects they could get their hands on. The trend also allowed zombie movie pioneer George A. Romero to add a 4th installment to his cult classic “Dead” trilogy. What could have been an ill-conceived cash grab ended up being a triumphant return to form for Romero, standing head and shoulders above the majority of this year’s crop of horror duds. It may not necessarily have been the scariest movie of the year, but it is probably the most fun, delivering action, suspense, gore, laughs, and yes, even a little bit of social satire to boot. — Sean

6. Murderball
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If you find the right subject, a documentary can be every bit as compelling as a fictional film (if not moreso). In this sense, Murderball has it all… humour, drama and a privileged look into the lives of some very unique people. The title refers to the sport of wheelchair rugby, a pasttime/obsession enjoyed by quadriplegics with tricked out titanium wheelchairs and an overload of testosterone. This movie is not so much about the sport (although the in-game action is insane to watch), as it is about a few specific individuals who play it and how the game fits into their lives. Murderball will transform the way you look at people with disabilities, not necessarily through the courageous triumphs over adversity, but by how little they allow it to change them as people. — Sean

5. Wallace and Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
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Wallace and Gromit, the beloved stars of the shorts “A Close Shave”, “TheWrong Trousers” and “A Grand Day Out”, finally got their own big screen claymation adventure, and it turned out to be even bigger, funnier and even
more spectactular than Aardman Animation’s other feature, “Chicken Run”. This time around the British pair find themselves tracking down a giant rabbit that is terrorizing a vegetable contest. The story and pacing is Pixar level tight, the action is fantastic, and the characters are amazingly expressive. Truly one of the greatest family films to be geared for all ages, and the odds-on favorite to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar. — Goon

4. Grizzly Man
Among the many outstanding documentaries that 2005 had to offer, one of the lesser seen
but more fascinating ones came from fearless independent filmmaker Werner Herzog. A large chunk of the footage was not shot by Herzog himself, but rather by the subject of the film: Timothy Treadwell, a naturalist who lived in isolation with grizzly bears in Alaska for months at a time. Treadwell and his girlfriend were found killed by the very animals that they had studied and fought to protect. Strangely, the most interesting creature in this movie is not any of the bears, but rather Treadwell himself. By piecing together his videos and interviewing people who were close to him, Herzog attempts to not only uncover the events that lead to his death, but also delve into the mind of a guy who shunned human contact in favour of wild animals. — Sean

3. Millions
Even with a resume that includes Shallow Grave, 28 Days Later and Trainspotting, it was this film that proved to me that Danny Boyle is a man with a true artistic vision, who I’m sure will be pumping out many (cult?) classics in the years to come. It’s a catastrophe that “Millions” didn’t see a wider release this year, and I bet it had something to do with a confused marketing department. At face value, it’s a kids movie about a couple boys who find a bag full of hundreds, thousands, (millions?) of cash, and their wacky hijinks with it. It’s also one of the more religiously themed movies I’ve seen. But it’s also a weird, occasionally dark film, with a soundtrack and style that makes me wonder if it was really meant to be a family film at all. The fact that there are no stars in this film probably hurt the chances of it hitting a lot of screens, yet it truly helps Boyle in the depiction of the single parent household. On top of all this, the film is actually some pretty good eye candy, with some amazing cinematography and a charming use of special effects. — Goon

2. King Kong
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In a year when Hollywood cobbled together a million and one unnecessary remakes, Peter Jackson unleashed the biggest one of all… and didn’t disappoint. The difference here is that King Kong was a labour of love for Jackson, who credits the original as being the inspiration for his career. The movie brims with the confidence and skill he gained from overseeing the behemoth that was the Lord of the Rings trilogy, not to mention the enthusiasm of someone who simply loves making movies. Combined with the top notch effects from WETA and a standout performance from Naomi Watts, King Kong succeeds in both paying tribute to the original and improving upon it. Who knew a simple love story about a giant ape could truly sustain a 3 hour epic? — Sean

1. Sin City
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The comic book movie craze showed no signs of slowing in 2005, and thanks to the critical and commercial success of Sin City, perhaps a graphic novel craze is on the horizon. After years of rightfully distrusting Hollywood,
Rodriguez won Frank Miller over with his dedication to make a movie more faithful to its source material than any film ever done before. Unique in an industry where everything’s been done, Sin City showed the world the potential of digital video and gave the world a perfect example of how to use visual effects and style to support a story instead of just being a gimmick to sell it. Most importantly though, the stories are fully engrossing and populated by iconic character after iconic character. This movie generated probably the most discussion this year: When not interrupted by prudes disappoving of the over the top violence and
alleged sexism, it was about favorite characters, moments, best use of spot color, favorite story, and how many more times to go to see it. If that’s not the mark of the movie that defines the year, I don’t know what is. — Goon

Honourable mentions: Oldboy, War of the Worlds, Batman Begins, Walk The Line, Rock School