5) The Hulk

Perhaps no 2003 film has suffered from deflated expectations as much as Hulk did after its lackluster Superbowl trailer aired back in January. However, every indication over the past month or so, including a much cooler and highly effective final trailer, has pointed to a much better film than originally hinted at back in January. The CGI that brings the green goliath to life has apparently been tweaked exponentially, therefore eliminating the heavy cheese factor rampant in the now infamous spot. Underlying all of that is the fact that this is a big screen feature of The Incredible Hulk and it is Ang Lee's first film since the blockbuster film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. It's almost impossible that a movie featuring a 20-foot tall green giant tossing an M1A2 Abrams tank over his head like a child throws its toy wouldn't be a hell of a good time, so we'll be there opening day.

4) Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

"I'll be back…and back…and back". When this film was officially greenlighted, there was a lot of speculation as to whether this was too much of a good thing. James Cameron's Terminator 2 was as close to a perfect action film as had ever been made and now that he was officially not at the helm of the franchise and with Arnold Schwarzenegger becoming an official member of the "Harrison Ford Too Old to Make Good Action Movies Club," expectations were really not that high. But with a sky high budget and the signing of crafty director Jonathan Mostow of U571 fame, hope was yet again reborn. Truth be told, nothing shown or heard about the movie has truly intrigued us yet, but it is still early. We are still anticipating a solid action film that delves deeper into the world of the relentless Terminator, this time played by a sultry beauty that no normal man would actually run away from, and its potential victim John Connor.

3) X2: X-Men United

While the general consensus around X-Men seemed to be that it's an adequate movie, with the main objections being that it's too short and didn't truly use all of the characters it introduced, many still agreed that there was real potential in the franchise. The potential looks to be fully realized in X2: X-Men United, in what will undoubtedly be the first giant hit of the summer season. With the net abuzz with everything X-Men, and more marketable talent than any movie should be allowed to have, X2 looks hot, feels cool and is chock full of eye candy, and we're not just talking about the special effects here. All indications point to it being one of the better offerings this summer and we're ready to buy our tickets.

2) Finding Nemo

Finding Nemo follows the funny and exciting adventures of two clownfish, Marlin and his son Nemo, who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia when Nemo is caught and put into a fish tank in a Sydney dentist's office. Marlin sets out on a dangerous journey to find his son, accompanied by a dippy but sweet fish named Dory. As Marlin tries to save the youngster, Nemo hatches an escape plan of his own, complicating the reunion.

The reason it clocks in at number two on our list is simply that we love Pixar. In its relatively short lifetime, the Disney-affiliated studio has produced some of the greatest animated films in our history. They've successfully explored delightful and eclectic worlds, with amazing computer animation paving the way for ever-expanding possibilities. From toys to bugs to monsters, Pixar has consistently captured the imagination and the hearts of young and old alike, and from what we can see, Finding Nemo looks as though it will be following that tradition with aplomb. The coral reef setting lends itself perfectly to the CGI process, allowing for realistic effects and true-to-life characters. The trailers and commercials have so far been delicious, and once potential audiences get a load of a shark named Bruce, the sky's the limit this summer.

1) The Matrix Reloaded

The Matrix Reloaded will have one of the biggest openings in box office history and if it wasn't for The Matrix Revolutions being released in November later this year, it would be a lock to be the biggest movie of the year. Of this, there is no doubt. The reason there is no debate is because no movie in recent memory has had as much positive buzz and overwhelming hype behind it as this sequel to the 1999 mega-hit The Matrix, not even Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

The last four years have been extremely long ones for those like us who have been eagerly awaiting this sequel. And the film not only looks good, it looks jaw-droppingly amazing. The special effects, the action scenes, the pure kick ass fun that made The Matrix such a fan favorite, have all been taken a higher level. In a time when it is very difficult for action movies to truly stand out and impress, The Matrix Reloaded does that in spades.

The Matrix Reloaded was very nearly a unanimous choice for us, with people who didn't give it a first place vote almost always giving it a second place vote. Just as Spider-Man was the movie event of last year, The Matrix Reloaded is the movie event of this year. Considering that this year includes tent pole releases such as The Hulk and the final chapter of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, that is saying a lot.

The only downside of seeing The Matrix Reloaded will be waiting for hours in line. When the payoff is what will undoubtedly be the most exhilarating movie experience in ages, it is well worth the wait. May 15th cannot get here fast enough.

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