Though we're only seven years through this decade, let's do every critics job based on the films so far. What's your list for best films this decade?
For me:

10. Traffic
9. Pan's Labyrinth
8. Requiem for a Dream
7. Children of Men
6. The Pianist
5. The Departed
4. Lost in Translation
3. Muholland Drive
2. Sideways
1. City of God

Is this a personal top 10 for the decade? And by decade, are you extending back to 1997 (because that would open up a whole new range of films)?

this is such a subjective question.

While most of those films are pretty good, I would have to put the axe on Lost in Translation because it is one of those love it or hate it movies and doesn't hold a candle to some of the other films listed. Also you left the LOTR trilogy or at least Return of the King off of your list.

I think this list is way too subjective as yawnface said because I could pop off about 30 movies I really loved in this decade and I could put them on or off my list depending on my mood for the day, because somedays I like Hollywood films, other days foreign film, etc.

By what criteria are you making this list? Is it just personal favorites from the last 7 years? Or are they ranked by level of impact and significance?

THe only one there I wholeheartedly agree with is City of God and maybe Requiem and CoM. I'd definately add House of Sand and Fog.

My bad. Starting from 2000 on. This is not a personal favorites list, but one of critical opinion. Also, don't critique my list, post your own.

Well if you want one of "critical opinion" you might as well just look at the last 10 oscar best picture winners which are:

The Departed
Crash
Million Dollar Baby
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Chicago
A Beautiful Mind
Gladiator
American Beauty
Shakespeare in Love
Titanic

there, critical opinion (at least I think that's what you mean)

The problem with the oscar (while it is a significant gauge) is that there are often biases and politics that influence the decisions. For example, Saving Private Ryan was generally and critically considered a superior film to Shakespeare in Love, but was too violent for many voters. And even though LOTR:Fellowship of the Ring was far more critically acclaimed and considered a better candidate for the oscar than A Beautiful Mind in 2002, there was a collective move to delay honoring the film until the third (along with an aversion in the academy to fantasy).

And don't even get me started on the Golden Globes (Babel over The Departed? Seriously?).

I mean personal critical opinion. Make your OWN top ten.

Actually I was hoping to discuss and debate our candidates to collectively come up with a relatively definitive 'top ten of the 2000's' list.

And the Deaprted wasn't THAT good. Scorcese should have won the Oscar for Goodfellas, Raging Bull, or even Gangs of New York.

Speaking of which, if there was a 'top 10 performances of the decade' list, Daniel Day Lewis as Bill the Butcher would surely be on it.

I actually think The Departed was better than Goodfellas, and definately one of the best films in the new millenium. I also think Gangs of New York was vastly underrated, and definately agree about Daniel Day Lewis - that was an awesome performance.

As for a collective list, I doubt it will be possible. These lists will be so subjective, you're going to end up with squabbling (I, for one, would not settle until LOTR was featured prominently on the list). I think it would be possible, however, to make a list if the number of films was expanded to around 25 and there was no rank given to them (no #1, etc.).

How bout this, no franchises! LOTR included! None whatsoever! That would help considering not only (in my opinion) are they bad, but it would also eliminate stupid arguments over which is best in the series. Anyway, here's my list:

EDIT: I took out The Big Lebowski after realizing it came out in '98.

10. Requiem for a Dream
9. The Royal Tenenbaums
8. Gangs of New York
7. Children of Men
6. City of God
5. Mulholland Dr.
4. Adaptation
3. Memento
2. The Proposition
1. The Science of Sleep

You could argue that three spots on the top 10 list should be occupied, seperately, by the three LOTR films (or maybe just 2).

I think you can just count the LOTR trilogy as one entry, but if you had to pick I think the clear choice is the first film. As for the list above, I think Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was a better Gondry picture than the Science of Sleep. And for some reason I could never get into the Royal Tenenbaums, though strangely enough I really loved the Life Aquatic.

Other Candidates:
Spirited Away
Little Miss Sunshine

I agree on Eternal Sunshine and most definately on Spirited away. I think Pan's Labyrinth should be a shoe in. Also, I would think there would be some consideration of Letters from Iwo Jima (I haven't seen the film, but have read that it's incredible).

Actually, who all has seen Letters from Iwo Jima?

Letters from Iwo Jima was very good, but I'd be hesitant to put it in the top ten of the decade. It was clearly a better film than Flags of our Fathers (though noticeably smaller budget).

For some reason Pan's Labyrinth never really grabbed my attenion. Don't know why.

Yeah, I say Pan's and Letters from Iwo Jima are both nixed from competition. Remember, this is 7 years of films we're talking about. You are probably just thinking of Pan's because it is fresh in your mind. Re-watch some films from the early 2000's and you'll see that they are nothing to scoff at.

*DISCLAIMER*

I never said I agreed with the Academy, but you were asking for a critical opinion...

I agree with most of the movies said above though...

But as far as critism goes, I agree with this quote whole-heartedly:

"Criticism is prejudice made plausible." ~H.L. Mencken

I have rewatched many of the suggested films, and few of them are anywhere as good as Pan's Labyrinth (in my opinion). I'm not saying they aren't good; indeed, they're incredible films, all of them. But still, del Toro truly created an incredible movie. Also, take into account that Pan's Labyrinth is the most universally critically praised and one of the highest rated films so far this decade.