The majority of these flicks were super-expensive productions, and most were unable to attract the crowds. Fewer, though, were able to draw repeat viewers, a measure of the true box-office hit - think "Star Wars", "Lord of the Rings" and the old James Bond films.

In our midyear review, only a handful of movies stand out, though it has to be remembered that most film buffs watch about two a week - at best 25 per cent of the 400 titles released each year (excluding Thai movies). Seven out of every 10 films made will probably not be seen by most people, so it's only logical to expect a big blow-out in the global film industry, and Hollywood in particular, though Thailand will likely be affected as well.

In any event, here are Hanuman's choices for the best and the worst of the year so far.

Best picture: "Cars"

This latest Pixar-Disney animated feature is one of the few releases that's neither a sequel nor a remake. With a good cast - Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, Cheech Marin, Tony Shalhoub, Michael Keaton and George Carlin - Pixar filmmakers John Lasseter and Joe Ranfit take you on a wild race.

Its two-hour running time goes in a flash because the script and delivery are so well done. Like Pixar movies "Finding Nemo", "Monster Inc" and "The Incredibles", "Cars" is certain to walk away with the animation Oscar next spring.

In second place for best animation is "Ice Age 2: The Meltdown".

The cast from the first flick - John Leguizamo, Ray Romano, Denis Leary and Chris Wedge - is back for a new zany adventure. Queen Latifah, as the mammoth who thinks she's a squirrel, steals the movie.

Best sequel:

A toss-up between "X-Men 3: Last Stand" and "Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest".

The surprises in "X-Men" is the script's loyalty to the original Marvel comic book about a loose band of mutants in a narrow-minded, politically correct world.

Though the movie is pure fantasy, the debate is actually relevant: Who is to say who's normal? Do government or laboratories have that right? Essentially, the right of the individual is what "X-3" is fighting for.

Best look-alike:

Brandon Routh perfectly fits the role that the late Christopher Reeves immortalised two decades ago. Although the acting honours go to Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane and Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor, the big draw, at least for female audiences, is Routh.

Director Bryan Singer, who made the first two "X-Men" movies, knew he could get away with a two-and-a-half-hour "Superman" because Routh has a screen presence that makes girls giddy. As for guys, however, the going can be brutal.

Best horror:

"Silent Hill" by French director Christopher Gans is the surprise but clear winner. All of Gans' films have a strong Thai following, so even if the marketing budget for "Silent Hill" was limited, hardcore fans went to see it regardless. It is also one of the handful of new films that is not a remake or sequel.

Close behind Gans' latest fare is "Final Destination 3", in which director James Wong stays true to the first two flicks with gory scenes and a new batch of teens taking on the grim reaper.

Worst remake: "The Omen"

Even with a great cast - Liv Schreiber, Julia Stiles, Pete Postelthwaite, Michael Gambon, David Thewlis and Mia Farrow - it fails to justify its attempt to improve on the original.

Most hyped: "The Da Vinci Code"

Thai censors toyed with the idea of chopping off the last 10 minutes to appease Catholic groups, and insanity might have prevailed had it not been for the deafening outcry.

Most disappointing sequel: "Mission Impossible 3"

Tom Cruise forces his character to marry a doctor to please politically correct Hollywood. What on earth was he thinking? This is not "Mission Impossible" - it's a replay of his own wedding misadventure.

Weakest animation: "The Wild"

It looks like "Madagascar", sounds like "Madagascar", feels like "Madagascar". Piracy is bad in Asia, but when plagiarism rears its ugly head in America, sometimes it's okay. Double standards? Who's to say?

Worst superhero: "Ultra Violet"

While Milla Jovovich is always a joy to watch, this flick sinks as the action scenes undergo a lobotomy to make them look like nice clean fun. Its producers really need a brain scan.