MATT NEAL's A-Z of the best movies of the decade:Adaptation (2002) - bizarrely self-referential, post-modern piece on how to adapt a book into a film without actually doing so... but that's Charlie Kaufman for ya.Ali (2001) - Will Smith defied the odds to play the greatest boxer who ever lived and was robbed of an Oscar by an undeserving Denzel Washington.Almost Famous (2000) - Cameron Crowe showed his teenage years were much cooler than yours by reminiscing about his time with Rolling Stone as a 15-year-old.Amelie (2001) - whimisically wonderful and inventive French tale of one woman's efforts to make other people happy, starring the pixie-ish Audrey Tautou.Apocalypto (2006) - Mel Gibson's prolonged chase movie through a pre-conquistador Mayan civilisation was thrilling and a million times more entertaining than his Passion Of The Christ. Avatar (2009) - flawed but visually arresting sci-fi parable that will not only leave you gasping but will help make Aussie Sam Worthington a bona fide star.Batman Begins/The Dark Knight (2005/2008) - Christian Bale was a great bat, Christopher Nolan ramped up the darkness of Gotham City and Heath Ledger said farewell with one of the most memorable performances ever.Big Fish (2003) - the always surprising Tim Burton brought grown men to tears with this fantastical story that shows it's how you tell 'em, not how true they are.The Bourne trilogy (2002-2007) - Matt Damon was an unlikely super-assassin but this spy series so good that even James Bond sat up and took notice.Burn After Reading (2008) - the Coen Brothers make an unlikely espionage movie filled with stupid idiots played by a superb cast. The end result is hilarious, and one of their funniest movies to date.Casino Royale (2006) - 007 had never been so gritty or thuggish. The laughs (both with and at) were kept to a minimum but instead we got a Bond deserving of a licence to kill in Daniel Craig.Children Of Men (2006) - humanity is infertile and doomed in this gripping dystopian thriller that features some of the most remarkable one-shot sequences ever filmed.Cloverfield (2008) - the Blair Witch Godzilla Project. In a word: awesome. In more words: best monster-smashes-city movie ever.Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind (2002) - Sam Rockwell is all kinds of wonderful as game-show host and claimed secret agent Chuck Barris in this assured directorial debut from George Clooney.Control (2008) - the (brief) life and times (and music) of Joy Division's Ian Curtis recalled in stark and sombre realism by photographer Anton Corbjin.Coraline (2009) - a wonderfully inventive down-the-rabbit-hole adventure for all ages, rendered in sublime stop-animation by Henry Selick.Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) - momentarily turning the world onto Asian cinema, this wirework kung-fu romance was a heartfelt visual delight. The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008) - Brad Pitt gave the performance of a lifetime - with some CG assistance - in David Fincher's heartbreaking tale of a man who ages backwards.The Departed (2006) - great performances from Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson and (holy crap!) Mark Wahlberg make this the remake it's okay to both like and give Scorsese an Oscar for.Donnie Darko (2001) - as cultish as they come, Richard Kelly's time-warping, mind-bending drama is a pleasing puzzler that rewards on repeat watches. And the soundtrack rules.Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004) - love and all it's inanity and insanity is wonderfully realised in Charlie Kaufman's script, aided by Michel Gondry's delightful direction and stellar turns by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet.Finding Nemo (2003) - Pixar's epic underwater journey about a neurotic dad searching for his differently flippered son may have endangered the world's clownfish population but it was worth it.Frost/Nixon (2008) - the ultimate boxing match in which not a single blow is thrown, with dethroned champ Richard M. Nixon (the awesome Frank Langella) taking on newbie journo David Frost (the equally awesome Michael Sheen). Gladiator (2000) - our Russ takes on Romans, tigers and Joaquin (oh my!) in Ridley Scott's sword and sandal epic about power, justice and the awesome spectacle of watching grown men try to kill each other.Good Night, And Good Luck (2005) - a timely telling of journo Edward R Murrow's battle against the anti-Communist investigations of Senator McCarthy. Another winner from director Clooney.Gran Torino (2008) - Clint Eastwood makes his last stand in suburbia like a real cowboy to show that even the oldest prejudices can still die hard.Grindhouse: Death Proof/Planet Terror (2007) - a one-two punch from Tarantino and Rodriguez as they salute the days of the grindhouse and drive-ins with Z-movie glee, right down to the missing reels and awesome trailers.Hot Fuzz (2007) - the Shaun Of The Dead team take on action movies with straight-faced glee by plonking the conventions and cliches of the genre into small-town England.Howl's Moving Castle (2004) - Miyazaki continues his string of hits with this tale of redemption and peace that's as bizarrely wonderful as any of his previous works. I'm Not There (2008) - six great actors play not-Bob Dylan in this fascinating look into the singer-songwriters many faces. Cate Blanchett's is the best.In Bruges (2008) - so good it made me travel to Bruges to see if it really is "a f***ing fairytale" (it is). The sleepy city stands in for limbo as killers Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson await judgement in this super-smart black-comedy.The Incredibles (2004) - to call it incredible is too easy, but the look, music, style, characters, voices, story, themes and animation of this Pixar-perfect piece are... well... incredible.Inglourious Basterds (2009) - Tarantino goes to war and makes the film of his career, taking delight in carving up Nazis and the convention of war movies at the same time.Iron Man (2008) - Screw Superman - give us flawed superheroes like Tony Stark any day. Robert Downey Jr is perfectly cast in this awesome comic-book epic. Juno (2007) - Diablo Cody's sizzling script is neither comedy nor drama but both and held together by Jason Reitman's sturdy pacing and a vulnerable-yet-strong turn by Ellen Page.Kenny (2006) - Australia's funniest movie in a long time. Shane Jacobsen's likeable lisping loser Kenny proved you could find heart in the strangest of places... even a portaloo.Kill Bill 1 & 2 (2003/2004) - Tarantino again, this time getting his '70s kung-fu on via Uma Thurman's vengeful Bride. Style over substance perhaps, but oh what style.Lantana (2001) - engrossing Aussie creeper (get it?) about murder, infidelity and the tangled webs we weave. Suburban life under the microscope, and it sure looked ugly.Lars And The Real Girl (2007) - the seriously warped but strangely heartwarming tale of one man and his love for his inflatible girlfriend. One of the best scripts of the decade.The Last King Of Scotland (2006) - Forest Whitaker gives a suitably regal performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in this vigourous blend of fact and fiction that announced the arrival of James McAvoy.Little Miss Sunshine (2006) - quirky indie hit that thrives on the idea that even though you can't choose your family, they're still your family. Great cast.Lord Of The Rings trilogy (2001-2003) - Tolkien's fantasy epic is reverently brought to life by a Hobbit-like Kiwi. Impossibly stunning in every detail. Lost In Translation (2003) - the isolation of the long-distance traveller is charmingly realised in the relationship between lost souls Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson.Mary & Max (2009) - boldly unique claymation that's definitely not for the kids, tackling mental illness, alcoholism and loneliness with a charmingly Aussie sense of humour.Memento (2001) - a movie that goes backwards? One of the most ingenious thrillers of all time.Million Dollar Baby (2004) - could have been a sappy, Karate Kid-esque retread, but this had spirit, fight, and a knock-out punch no one saw coming. Clint Eastwood had one of his best decades as director.Monsters, Inc (2001) - another Pixar gem. Billy Crystal's voice work helps stuff more gags-per-second into this film than any other CG-animation this decade.Napoleon Dynamite (2004) - as plotless as it was endearing, this was so off-the-wall odd you couldn't help but like it, even if the surplus of 'Vote For Pedro' t-shirts did become irritating.No Country For Old Men (2007) - Javier Bardem is the chilling devil of retribution on the trail of a man with a fortune that's not his. The Coens tap into the same thrilling accidents of fate that powered Fargo.O Brother, Where Are Thou? (2000) - the Coens again, this time transplanting Homer's Odyssey into the deep south of the US, complete with excellent old-timey soundtrack.Old Boy (2003) - revenge is served icy cold in this Korean blend of violence and humanity. Choi Min-sik is frighteningly good as a man suddenly released from an inexplicable imprisonment.Pan's Labyrinth (2006) - graphic and confronting fable about a girl who escapes the horrors of the real world via a mystical labyrinth. Startingly original and unforgettable.Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003) - followed by two naff sequels, but the original is a powerhouse blockbuster made all the better by Johnny Depp's enigmatic turn as Captain Jack Sparrow.The Prestige (2006) - twist upon twist upon twist, as Christopher Nolan pulls another rabbit from the hat in this tale of warring magicians (the awesome Jackman and Bale) in search of the ultimate trick.Rabbit-Proof Fence (2001) - released in time to ride the wave of the Stolen Generation conversation, this was one of the most important Australian films of the decade, raising big questions about our past.Ratatouille (2007) - Pixar yet again, this time taking us into both the kitchen and the world of rats in a startlingly bold exploration of the joy of food and the need to follow your dreams.Requiem For A Dream (2000) - so harrowing it's hard to watch it again, Darren Aronofsky's painfully dark tale of addiction will give you nightmares but is impressive nonetheless.School Of Rock (2003) - surprisingly mainstream fare from Richard Linklater that mashed his indie smarts with the laugh-out-loud antics of Jack Black's wannabe-rock god persona. Shaun Of The Dead (2004) - the zom-rom-com is born, as Simon Pegg and Nick Frost battle the undead in the backyards, side-streets and alehouses of England. Funniest movie of the decade.Sin City (2005) - Frank Miller's graphic novel leaps from the page in noir-ish detail thanks to an all-star cast and Robert Rodriguez's knack for awesomeness.Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - energetic, raw, passionate, vibrant, dynamic, and dark yet hopeful, Danny Boyle's tale of one man's journey from slums to millions is a feast for the eyes and an ode to undying love.Snatch (2000) - Guy Ritchie's last act before becoming Mr Madonna and disappearing up his own backside was this darkly funny Brit gangster flick, that retread his Lock, Stock... style beautifully.Spirited Away (2001) - Miyazaki's take on Alice In Wonderland was near-incomprehensible but that was part of its charm. Despite a lack of sense, it was big on a sense of wonder.Star Trek (2009) - the Trekkies finally got the blockbuster they deserved as TV guru JJ Abrams went back to the future to see Captain Kirk and Mr Spock throw off their training wheels...Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith (2005) - ...and the Star Wars-heads finally got the prequel they deserved after the overly kiddy feel of Episodes I and II was cast aside in favour of the dark side.Sunshine (2007) - a psychological sci-fi drama big on tension thanks to Danny Boyle's claustrophobic direction with great performances. Best watched in the dark.Thank You For Smoking (2005) - when your hero is a tobacco lobbyist it takes something special to make them sympathetic. That something special was Jason Reitman's sharp satirical script and Aaron Eckhart note-perfect turn as the hero.There Will Be Blood (2007) - capitalism and religion go head-to-head in the old west with neither really winning thanks to the old sin of greed. Daniel Day Lewis is great but Paul Dano is a revelation as the priest.300 (2006) - forget historical accuracy, this is about 300 buff Spartans slaying a whole army in an unrivalled display of vivid slow-motion comic-book blood-letting.Traffic (2000) - effortlessly juggling its numerous story arcs, Steven Soderbergh shows the drug trade for a range of angles, each one as compelling as the last.V For Vendetta (2005) - Alan Moore's exhilirating graphic novel became a bold pro-terrorism and anti-Bush statement, as Hugo Weaving's masked villian wreaked merry vengeance on an Orwellian government.WALL-E (2008) - Pixar again, this time ditching dialogue to tell a futuristic tale with a message that the kids will come to appreciate in years to come. The Wrestler (2008) - a well-drawn character study focusing on Mickey Rourke's ageing wrestler and his attempts to find his place in a world that no longer wants him. Perfect casting, perfect performance.X-Men/X2 (2000-2003) - kickstarting the superhero pillaging that filled the '00s, these two mutant sagas brought the themes of racism and prejudice of the comics to the fore, as well as the action, making Hugh Jackman a star in the process.Zodiac (2007) - David Fincher unravels a realistic whodunnit without providing a who. It's the All The President's Men of serial killer thrillers.