2004 had more controversial films in one calendar year than recent memory combined.  From the public debate surrounding "The Passion of the Christ" to the grumblings regarding the historical accuracy of a slew of year end bio pics (and not one of them is safe from criticism), the arguments made for and against many films took away from the actual entertainment experience they provided.  When people look back at 2004, let's hope these controversies don't overshadow just what a great year for movies it was.  That said, here are my personal favorites of the year.

1. "Maria Full of Grace" -- A stunning achievement.  Director Joshua Marston's debut about a young Colombian girl who becomes a "drug mule" in hopes of a better life was a riveting journey drenched with a realism usually achieved only by filmmakers twice his age.

2. "Hero" -- Released overseas two years ago, Zhang Yimou's masterpiece of action and tragedy overwhelms you like a kick to the head.  We are lucky Miramax decided to release it in theaters here at all.

3. "The Sea Inside" -- The biggest tearjerker of the year also showcases another unforgettable performance by Javier Bardem.  

4. "The Incredibles" -- One of the few movies that lived up to its hype, Pixar's latest animated creation may be its best.

5. "Kinsey" -- Laura Linney's stellar performance as Dr. Alfred Kinsey's wife, Clara, is the heart and soul of an important historical drama that is refreshingly humorous and touching.

6. "Sideways" -- You were expecting this at number one? Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor's script was the foundation for a great movie for sure, but unlike many I'm not going to react like it's the second coming.  Just felt like number six to me.
 
7. "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" -- Giant robots, Shangri-la, flying fortresses, underwater battles, ray guns, mad scientists, the fate of the world and witty banter to boot?  Oh my!

8. "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" -- Inventive, moving, and uncompromising. Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and director Michel Gondry teamed up to create the most original love story of the year.

9. "Hotel Rwanda" -- A movie that is great not just because of the horrifying story it explores, but because it makes that truth so unforgettable.

10. "Farenheit 9/11" -- No matter what your political beliefs, Michael Moore's latest documentary fueled more passion than any other film this year.

Worth Seeing: "Bad Education," "The Aviator," "The Bourne Supremacy," "The Manchurian Candidate," "A Very Long Engagement," "Friday Night Lights," "Kill Bill, Vol. II," "Vera Drake," "Baadasssss!," "Collateral" and "Being Julia."

Great Fun: "Mean Girls," "Spider-man 2," "13 Going On 30," "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story," "Shrek 2," "In Good Company," "Dawn of the Dead," "Hellboy" "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and "Ocean's Twelve."

Unbelievably Bad: "Van Helsing," "Alexander," "Twisted," "I Heart Huckabees," "Beyond The Sea," "Undertow," "Torque," "The Day After Tomorrow," "Touch of Pink," "Little Black Book," "Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid" and "Spanglish."