5. Ratatouille. The movie is so much more than a "rat that can cook" story that you may gather from the plot outline. There is a moment early on when Remy the rat's brother, Emile asks him why he goes into the house of the humans. Remy responds saying: "Look at what they can do, what they can create." This simple line had an effect on the rest of the film. The scene gives this wonderfully optimistic outlook that pervades the rest of the film. It is only strengthened later on with a scene between Remy and his father where Remy says that it only takes one person to begin change. Combine that with Chef Gusteau's quote, "Anyone can cook," and you have the core of this movie. You can do what you put your mind to. It is a great story of friendship that has gravity and a sense of the real world it.

6. 300. This is the next step in cinema style, the gorgeous union of live action and computer generated surroundings. Zack Snyder has delivered a film that will grab you by the eye sockets and demand your full attention. Beyond the technique, there is a story that is what myth and legend are made of. This is how legends are born — the stories of heroes are told, passed down, and used as a point of inspiration for the people. It could be seen as a form of propaganda — that's what these passed down tales of heroism boil down to, don't they? This story is no different; it's an actual event that is blown up to gigantic proportions, exaggerated to the point of the grand effect of inspiration. It is in that where everything falls into place. Or, you could watch it as a an explosive example of how exhilarating pure action can be.

7. Across the Universe. This film takes you on a journey through the 1960s, the era of free love and living with no rules, the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War, through the use of Beatles songs, sung by the cast. The story is timeless and could just as easily have been set today, it is so relevant it is scary. However, it is so much more about the characters and the journey that they take as they navigate the choppy waters of the real world as they grow and mature as individuals than about making a political statement about the current world situation. Beyond all else, it is an incredible experience, it is a musical travelogue of the '60s, a romance, an adventure, a war film, a comment on the war effort, the list goes on. It is one of the most imaginative films in some time. From the story, to the dance numbers, puppets, computer and practical effects, it all adds up to a film that seeks to stretch what can be done with the visual medium. Simply beautiful.