Top Five Films of the Noughties

Avatar

James Cameron’s epic fantasy adventure was 20 years in the making, and was certainly worth the wait. Written and directed by Titanic director James Cameron, Avatar cost over £200 million to make. Movie reviews were overall positive, although some critics commented that Avatar lacked a decent script and plot line. But audiences didn’t care, and what the film lacked in story-telling it more than made up for in special effects and cinematography. With its stunning landscapes and mythical creatures, Avatar made full use of the new 3D technology, changing the way we view cinema forever.

Finding Nemo

With the release of Toy Story in 1995, Pixar had cemented itself as a pioneering film studio, making fun films the whole family could enjoy. With Finding Nemo, the studio once again delivered a heart-warming story through revolutionary computer animation. The story of a father searching desperately for his lost son struck a chord with audiences, and it was a smash at the box-office, taking over $800 million worldwide.

Anchorman

This laugh-out-loud comedy of 2004 had a stellar cast, a great story, and packed with so many jokes and one-liners it was hard to keep up. Written by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, this is arguably the funniest film of the noughties – if not of all time – and needs at least two viewings to be fully appreciated. The success of Anchorman propelled Will Ferrell to international stardom, and is still one of his best comic performances.

Love Actually

Written by rom-com extraordinaire Richard Curtis, this heart-warming, funny, and sometimes tragic story has everything you could want from a Christmas film. Love Actually premiered at the most famous of all the London cinemas – the Odeon in Leicester Square – in 2003, and was a huge success. Audiences flocked to see this very British film, featuring the best actors the UK has to offer. The themes of love, loss, and family are all covered in what has now become a festive tradition for many people.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

In the final instalment of the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy director Peter Jackson’s certainly kept the best for last. The trilogy started back in 2001, and audiences had to wait a whole year in between releases, but each time they were not disappointed. The Return of the King finished off the trilogy in style, with emotionally charged scenes and huge battle sequences that had to be seen to be believed. The positive movie reviews were endless and, as was to be expected, it cleaned up at the Oscars.