These films stood out as this reviewer's favorites of 2005:

1. A History of Violence (on DVD Feb. 28)

A small-town diner owner (Viggo Mortensen) defends his place from
robbery, then finds himself as the center of attention of the media
and the mob. The Mortensen character is hiding a secret past that
now endangers every corner of his life and puts all his
relationships in jeopardy. David Cronenberg's brutally incisive
drama cuts to the core of conflicted identity and mankind's need to
resort to violence. Utterly moving and furious in moments of extreme
tension, it's the best film of 2005.

2. Sin City (available On DVD)

Robert Rodriguez fused his wild talents with those of noir comic-book man Frank Miller, and the result was a delirious spectacle of
sleazy streets, whizzing bullets and slippery vengeance. A glorious
achievement that resets the bar for comic-book adaptations.

3. Batman Begins (On DVD)

The second of two stellar films inspired by comics reimagined Batman as a dark, bitter hero of our time instead of the spandex-
crazed do-gooder who too often populates superhero films. The first
Batman film to look more closely at the man rather than the bat.

4. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (On DVD)