Second, a few quick lists:
C-Dog's Fave 2003 Movies
1. Love, Actually. I can't think of a movie I saw last year that wasn't flawed in at least one significant way. Of them all, this is the one I'd most like to see again, despite those flaws.
2. Return of the King. Great movie, grand spectacle, lots of fun. Some pretty significant flaws. Not number one because what I'm actually looking forward to is not seeing this movie again but it's Extended Edition when it comes out on DVD.
3. Finding Nemo. Given the choice between seeing this or Mystic River again, I'd choose this one.
Letdowns: The Hulk, X2, Matrix Reloaded, Matrix Revolutions.
Still want to see: Lost in Translation, Die Another Day, Bend it Like Beckham, LXG, Identity.
Fave Bands in 2003
1. Yo La Tengo. Only saw a few bands live last year and they were the best. Summer Sun is one of my favorite albums of last year.
2. The Postal Service / Death Cab for Cutie. Yeah, they're all the rage.
3. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. Hearts of Oak spent as much time as any in the car player, where I do most of my listening.
4. Dropkick Murphys. One of my favorite moments of the year, among the many that took place that night, was when the Murphys' "Forever" closed the dance floor at my wedding. Good times.
5. Rancid. It's the kind of music I'm hard-wired for.
Letdowns: The Slackers, Looper.
Still want to pick up: Joe Strummer, The Midnight Evils.
Third, I put on the swami hat and make some predictions for 2004.
1. Dean.
2. Red Sox in 6.
3. 3 UConn players drafted in the first round.
4. The world events equivalent of "US v. Iraq" in 2003 will be "China v. somebody" in 2004.
Fourth, I assert, after a New Year's morning viewing, that "The Talons of Weng-Chiang" is one of the top five all time Doctor Who stories. The success of the new Doctor Who series will be directly correlated to how well it recaptures the groove of the 1974-1977 Hinchcliffe era.
