28 DAYS LATER Danny Boyle needed a hit, particularly after The Beach threatened to end his Hollywood pass in the wake of Trainspotting. Thankfully, Boyle's contemporary updating of the zombie movie - transplanting the action to London together with a Day Of The Triffids vibe - worked a treat. 28 Days Later became a success in the US - which is quite an achievement for a British movie without Richard Curtis involved somewhere... DVD review

2 FAST 2 FURIOUS The first Vin Diesel racing action drama was a surprise hit a few years back, but even without Diesel aboard a sequel found its way onto multiplexed. Paul Walker (the most wooden actor of 2003?) takes the lead. Well, actually, the cars are the real stars. Sadly, while F&F2 is a serviceable sequel, all the best bits were revealed in the trailer and there's not much more to get excited about.

ADAPTATION After the sublime Being John Malkovich, screenwriter Charlie Kaufman was in danger of being labelled a one-trick pony. His terrible Human Nature (a crass and lazy Tarzan-alike) could have signalled the end of a promising career. Thankfully, reteaming with music-director Spike Jonze and an on-form Nicolas Cage, rescued him. Adaptation became one of the most original movies of 2003 and a worthy Oscar nominee for Best Adapted Screenplay - which is sadly didn't win... DVD review

BAD BOYS II Unwanted sequels abound in recent years - with none more unwanted than Bad Boys II. Will Smith should be steaming ahead, not starring in trite re-runs of past glories (a la Men In Black II). Of course, for Martin Lawrence this movie was just the shot in the arm he needed after dismal comedy efforts like Black Knight. Even director Michael Bay, still smarting after Pearl Harbor's critical drubbing, needed an easy hit. To be fair, Bad Boys II is gorgeous to look at - with some impressive action sequences around every corner... but there's just very little else beyond posturing and dumb dialogue.

BRUCE ALMIGHTY Jim Carrey's career has wavered in the past five years. He hit a low with Me, Myself & Irene, didn't find a particularly receptive audience for The Grinch and then starred in total disaster The Majestic. Haven't heard of it? There's a reason. So, Mr Carrey decided to star in a safe-bet - a high-concept comedy from the director of his first hit - Ace Ventura Pet Detective. Bruce Almighty didn't really satisfy those hungry for more biting satire, but it had a fairly high gag quotient and became 2003's blockbuster comedy successes.

CHARLIE'S ANGELS - FULL THROTTLE Strangely, Charlie's Angels was one of the most pleasantly dumb and entertaining action movies of 1999. So it's even stranger that its sequel - now outfitted with a bigger budget and the presence of the shapely Demi Moore - should fail so pathetically. It retains its sparkle and sass, but the lead actresses are now utterly saccharine and false. McG ensures the film is overly-directed to cover-up the lack of plot, and the headline-grabbing Moore barely features. A sad waste.

CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND George Clooney is becoming a real player. Not only is he one of the brightest and best Hollywood actors around, but he can also direct! This is his debut, and he manages to craft a very witty and engaging "true" story based on the autobiography of infamous US gameshow host Chuck Barris... who may, or may not, have also been a hitman for the CIA. Sam Rockwell is fantastic as Barris, while Charlie Kaufman's screenplay is playful and interesting.

DAREDEVIL In the wake of Spider-Man, superheroes are hot property in Hollywood. So much so that even the not-quite-so-famous comic-book stars can get a shot at greatness. Ben Affleck achieves a boyhood dream to play the Man Without Fear, a blind lawyer who actually has sonar-like super-senses. Perhaps most memorable for Colin Farrell's scenery chewing and the delicious presence of Jennifer Garner as sai-wielding assassin Elektra. Daredevil was a solid hit in the US, but struggled elsewhere.

DUMB & DUMBERER There are unwanted sequels (see Bad Boys II) and then there are unwanted prequels. Jim Carrey comedy Dumb & Dumber was decent enough - heralding an era of bad taste comedy back to our screens - but did it really need a prequel? Without Carrey of Jeff Daniels, the film has to rely on two unknown look-a-likes - who actually aren't that bad. But the script is infantile nonsense and a sad indictment on everything that's wrong with cash-in titles...

FINDING NEMO Pixar can't go wrong. Since 1995's Toy Story they have dominated the CGI movie-making world (with only DreamWorks' Shrek offering a challenge). Finding Nemo was being quietly perceived as their worst film - and it's certainly not their best, really - but that didn't stop it becoming the biggest grossing animated movie of all time! Great voice talent, and even greater animation ensure Nemo is a family film the kids will be watching on DVD for years to come... Movie review