Another year, another shameful list of how out of touch I was with good media just a little while ago.
Top 10 Films of 2002
10. Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones
This is in the ten spot because I can’t really defend it. I know, in my heart of heats, this is not a good movie. It might even be the worst Star Wars movie. But I’m a Star Wars guy, and there’s no way I could not have this on the list. I’ve seen Attack of the Clones plenty of times, and I’m sure I’ll be watching it more in the years to come.
9. Bubba Ho-Tep
I think everyone like Bruce Campbell. This funny horror flick is about the supernatural murders taking place in an old folks home, and a couple senile old men who try to get to the bottom of the mystery. Props to Ossie Davis for his turn as JFK.
8. Catch Me If You Can
Certainly this is minor Spielberg, and if I was a real man, I’m sure this would have been bumped for a film like City of God or Rodger Dodger. But I didn’t see those movies. If I remember correctly, however, this action comedy did have a certain charm to it that is hard to beat.
7. Punch-Drunk Love
This is an interesting film, like everything else by P.T. Anderson. Adam Sandler turns in a great performance in this bizarre, almost heart-warming romantic motion picture.
6. Signs
My favorite M. Night Shyamalan movie. Signs may sound really stupid when you talk about it later, but that first time through it’s one hell of a ride. Great score too, I mean the damn opening credits were unsettling.
5. Spider-Man
A great super hero origin movie from the master Sam Raimi. This is a comic book movie that even someone like my mom could enjoy, and just seeing Spider-Man brought to life so vividly totally blew my mind back in 2002. The first and only movie I ever downloaded while it was still in theaters, I even bought the gigantic special edition DVD.
4. Minority Report
I know a lot of people straight up hate Tom Cruise, but this movie is bad ass. I’m not going to spoil anything, but just trust me, it’s awesome. Did Steven Spielberg really direct two movies on this list? This is madness!
3. Gangs of New York
A movie so great it took me years to finish it. Scorsese paints a New York unlike anything we’ve ever seen before in this violent masterpiece. Plus, come on, D. Day’s in it.
2. Adaptation.
You’re going to hard pressed to find a movie that’s more of a trip than Adaptation. There’s a lot of stuff going on on a lot of different levels and amazingly enough it all works. I guess that’s just Charlie Kaufman’s M.O.
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Fellowship‘s successor is, if you ask me, the superior film. Just think about it, the movie starts with arguably the coolest sequence ever put to film, and concludes with the most epic battle of the entire franchise. If you didn’t give this movie 5 stars, you’re broken. I bet even Richard “this movie just sucks” Roeper did. And that guy’s cold as ice.
Top 10 Albums of 2002
10. Foo Fighters – One by One
I kind of miss being all about the Foo Fighters. Great, rockin’ tunes like “All My Life” and “Times Like These” used to be some of my favorites. That’s why I’m glad they went on hiatus, maybe they can come back and totally rock my socks off one more time.
9. Muse – Hullabaloo Soundtrack
Maybe I shouldn’t count this album, since it’s a combo compilation of B-side tracks and a live performance. But I want to, since I’m not the kind of guy who usually gets singles, EPs or any of that nonsense.
8. Spoon – Kill the Moonlight
Just got into this album a little while ago. If you like the soundtrack to the movie Stranger Than Fiction, you’ll probably like this album.
7. Sigur Rós – ( )
Probably one of the top albums from these Icelandic rockers. Hell, Kevin evenly likes one of the songs off of it. It’s just so cold in Iceland.
6. Interpol – Turn on the Bright Lights
God damn, I’m one cool motherfucker, aren’t I? I like freakin’ Interpol. I should live in New York and go to Yankee games and ask people, “hey, is Derek Jeter a pitcher?” I’m that cool.
5. Nada Surf – Let Go
Nada Surf goes from ’90s band I hardly remember to awesome early 2000s band with this freaking sweet album. Let it turn your dreams into magical pillows on the stairway to intergalactic travel.
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers – By the Way
As if Californication wasn’t cool enough already, RHCP dropped another totally sweet album with By the Way. Toast my goats.
3. The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Ah, now here’s something I never expected. We were watching 3 South and Colin was all, “that album’s pretty good, too.” I was shocked, how would Colin know such a thing? Maybe he was lying to show off? Then I downloaded it and I was like, oh, yeah, this is pretty good. Pretty damn good.
2. Beck – Sea Change
Beck’s all depressed, but that just gives this album more resonance. It’s even got a CAT
1. Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
Did you guys forget I like Coldplay? I didn’t think so, I mean I freaking write about them all the time. It’s kind of weird, don’t ya think. Maybe I shouldn’t write about myself so much.
Top 10 Video Games of 2002
10. Freedom Force
This game was a sweet RTS that was all about super heroes. The main game alone was fun, but what made it truly great was the customizability, which made an incredible number of great custom characters available quickly. Everyone from Galactus to Superman was out there, you just had to download it.
9. Jet Set Radio Future
Now this is not a legendary release that people around the world celebrate with unbridled enthusiasm, but Jet Grind Radio was one of the best DreamCast games, and JSRF was a good followup. Why not Jet Grind Radio Future, I always wondered. They already committed with the fist game.
8. MechAssault
Ah, the dawn of Xbox LIVE. The good ol’ days when knockin’ about in gigantic robots online was a real novelty to those of us that prefer a controller. Those were the days…
7. Animal Crossing
The game so good, Nintendo had to make it again. And again. And again. Ugh…
6. Super Mario Sunshine
The camera’s a little janky, and the game doesn’t play that great, but it’s Mario!
5. Grand Theft Auto Vice City
Sure, I never owned this game. But I played it at John’s house. It was like the last GTA game, but way cooler. I was totally cellist.
4. Battlefield: 1942
The game that inspired years of online multiplayer. I got a lot of mileage out of this title that would surely seem extremely dated if I were to play it again today.
3. Warcraft III
There are people still playing this game right now. I’m serious. That’s how much staying power a truly great game like this has.
2. Metroid Prime
The game that made me want a GameCube. Arguably the best game on that console, and one of my favorites ever.
1. Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Outcast
This game is a cool as a cucumber in the middle of winter in a freezer with transitions glasses flashing gang signs and wearing baggy pants while listening to Interpol. It’s in my top 5 games ever, and I seem to find myself coming back to it even today. Come on, make a new Jedi Knight!