First up, it is Avatar (2009)… a movie that depicts an alien world where the inhabitants fight off a demonic clan with such bravery and gallantry. Their failure, their success and their never-say-die attitude wins my hats-off honour. Daniel Craig as James Bond sets the bar high in Casino Royale (2006). Kill Bill Vol.1 (2003) is another action-packed film and Uma Thurman goes all out to get back at her enemies. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) is a compilation of humorous situations. The Hangover (2009) is a rollicking comedy that I enjoy all the time. (Pick your top 5 Holly films from 2000 to 2017...)  
Kousik Majumdar

I’m very selective about Hollywood films and mostly like detective and animation movies. For me, the top 5 Holly films from 2000-2017 are Inside Out (2015), Moonlight (2016), Boyhood (2014), The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (2006) and Spirited Away (2002). Inside Out is not only my favourite Holly movie, but my all-time favourite film. Whenever Inside Out is on TV, I make it a point to watch it.
Ritwika Mukherjee, 
Methodist School

Spider-Man 3 (2007) is the first Hollywood film that I watched in the theatre and it stays at the top of my list. The other Holly films from 2000-2017 that I like are: The Last Samurai (2003), Ninja Assassin (2009), Life of Pi (2012) and all the Harry Potter films (2001 to 2011).
Debojyoti Sikdar, Barrackpore

My Top 5 Holly films in this period are: Iron Man 3 (2013), Despicable Me 2 (2014), A Haunted House 2 (2014), The Avengers (2012), Thor (2011). 
Sourav Sarkar

Hunger (2008), Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014), Edge of Tomorrow (2014), Logan (2017), The Conjuring 2 (2016).
Joyita Basak

1. Insidious (2010)
2. Annabelle (2014) 
3. The Conjuring (2013)
4. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Tushali Roy 

1. The Artist (2011): A black-and-white silent film that chronicles the fall and rise of two actors. Jean Dujardin as George Valentin was exceptional. Berenice Bejo as Peppy Miller was equally delightful. But the one to watch is Uggie, the brilliant little Jack Russell Terrier, who stars as the Dog and steals the show. The soundtrack is also brilliantly composed. Whoever thinks that B&W silent films are boring and a thing of the past only has to watch this incredible film.
2. Gladiator (2000): I have loved this film ever since the first time I saw it seven years ago. Russell Crowe shines as the eponymous Gladiator, Maximus Decimus Meridius, and conveys the wrath and sorrow of a man who has lost everything. He makes you root for Maximus from the beginning and leaves you shattered when the film ends. The background score by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard is astoundingly poetic and powerful.
3. Boyhood (2014): I was glad to see that this film featured in the list printed in t2, as well. The sheer staggering effort that went into making this film is a wonder in itself. Chronicling the life of Mason from childhood through his adolescence, Richard Linklater reminds us that the beauty of life lies in its imperfections. 
4. Bright Star (2009): A poignant and beautiful film with poetic cinematography that more than does justice to the tragic tale of love of John Keats and Fanny Brawne.
5. Ratatouille (2007): A delight for foodies everywhere, Ratatouille is an incredibly entertaining watch for all ages. It’s also incredibly inspiring through its message ‘Anybody Can Cook’, which spurs protagonist Remy to fulfil his dream of cooking by entering the world of haute cuisine. I loved Collette for her drive and passion for cooking and Anton Ego for his imposing persona, that Remy’s cooking transforms.
Rupanjali Samadder, 
Gokhale Memorial Girls’ College

Being a die-hard fan of the Harry Potter series, my list of favourite Holly movies is topped by Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001). The film released when I was just two, but when I watched it later, I was introduced to another world. I have been crushing on Emma Watson since then. The next two films are Slumdog Millionaire (2008) and Life of Pi (2012)… not only because of their Indian backdrop, but for the adventure in Life of Pi and the underworld background in Slumdog. The final two are Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009) where Isla Fisher portrayed a shopaholic perfectly, and The Hangover Part II (2011). Both the movies make me go LOL. It was difficult to keep it to only 5. Good job, t2, for such an article!
Anubhav Chatterjee, 
Methodist School, Dankuni

Being a big movie buff, I couldn’t pick just five films. So my Top 10, in no particular order, are…
1. Logan (2017): The ultimate farewell to Wolverine… the best superhero movie till date. It’s different from the mainstream superhero films and has superb acting by Hugh Jackman, Dafne Keen and Patrick Stewart.
2. The Dark Knight (2008): Gave us the greatest villain of all time… a legendary performance from Heath Ledger.
3. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001): The one that began it all and created a new world for Potterheads like me.
4. Inception (2010): Christopher Nolan at his best...
5. Big Hero 6 (2014): A great animation film not only for kids, but for teenagers and adults alike.
6. Gravity (2013)
7. The Martian (2015)
8. Inside Out (2016)
9. The Prestige (2006)
10. Life Of Pi (2012)
Tanay Bhattacharya
Every film is unique. A great film for one may be average for the other. So with the dream of becoming a great director one day, here are my top films 
1. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007): This Tim Burton film is a masterpiece on another level. A gothic musical with suspense and revenge, with a cast led by the outstanding Johnny Depp. This twisted film is a must. 
2. The Machinist (2004): Brad Anderson directs this psychological thriller that’s sure to play with your mind. Has an unbelievable transformation from Christian Bale and will surely suck you into its insomniac world. 
3. Django Unchained (2012): A tough choice, but among the gems directed by Quentin Tarantino, this is an absolute diamond. 
4. Corpse Bride (2005): Another twisted tale by the magician Tim Burton. An animated film with quirky characters. The underworld scenes are a treat.
Debopam Bhattacharya

First, I would like to choose The Other Side of the Door (2016) for its cast and the suspense of the unknown. I love horror films. World War Z (2013) was also a great film. Brad Pitt acted really well and the story was also very good. Third, Furious 7 (2015), because of Vin Diesel and my all-time favourite Dwayne Johnson. And I also love it because it was the last film of the series featuring Paul Walker. San Andreas (2015), because of Dwayne Johnson again… the film was very good. And last, The Mummy (2017)… Tom Cruise and Sofia Boutella acted so well that I watched the film four times!
 Swarnali Basu, 
Adamas International School

I love watching films in my free time, especially those that inspire me and make me feel happy. 
1. The Fault In Our Stars (2014): 
I didn’t know Augustus (played by Ansel Elgort) was going to die in the end. It made me cry a lot. Both Gus and Hazel (Shailene Woodley) deserved a chance.
2. Maleficent (2014):  The film taught us that the most powerful love is mother’s love; Angelina Jolie really rocked her look. 
3. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006): This movie is so inspiring and teaches us to never give up on our dreams. 
4. Harry Potter series (2001-2011): Who doesn’t love this? Twenty years have passed… I wish I could have my Hogwarts letters.
5. Zootopia (2016): In the world of predators, Lt. Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) as the prey made a difference. Nick Wild (Jason Bateman) reminded me of Chandler Bing from Friends. Also, the song Try Everything by Shakira gives you a sweet joy. 
Astha Jha, Brainware University

It’s been, by far, the toughest call for me to choose only a handful of films from 17 years. Ignoring the ratings and reviews of IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, my five best films are: 
1. Memento (2000) and Inception (2010): Nolan is a favourite and I would give credit to the narrative of both the films, the dream-within-dream concept of Inception or the “fabula vs sujet” narrative style of Memento. Two of the most mind-bending movies of all time with the potential to become cult classics.
2. Whiplash (2014) and La La Land (2016): Damien Chazelle’s musical sagas… whether two star-crossed lovers chasing dreams instead of love in La La Land or an aggressive instructor-student relationship in Whiplash... are a treat to watch. Chazelle mastered these two films.
3. Requiem for a Dream (2000), Mulholland Drive (2001): While Naomi Watts delivers an act of a lifetime in Mulholland Drive, Requiem for a Dream is a masterpiece by Darren Aronofsky that explores all possible avenues of addictive pleasure and pain.
4. No Country for Old Men (2007): A dizzying suspense drama, interspersed with dark humour. It takes the viewer into unfathomable depths of evil and poses existential questions about human destiny and is unmistakably the best Coen Brothers’ movie of this decade. It gave us one of the meanest villains of all time in Javier Bardem’s Anton Chigurh.
5. Birdman (2014): Bustling with raw energy, this one plays with the art of filmmaking and gives a new dimension to it. A caustic and dark yet funny look at the culture of instant fame in the modern age, with Micheal Keaton in one of the best performances of his career. 
Prithwish Roy

1. V for Vendetta (2005): Natalie Portman’ s acting was mind-blowing.
2. The Conjuring (2013): This movie still gives me goosebumps!
3. Frozen (2013): The most realistic Disney movie ever made, not to forget that true love got a different meaning.
4. Interstellar (2014): A film that made me realise how the relationship between a father-daughter should be.
5. The Jungle Book (2016): “Jungle jungle baat chali hai, pata chala hai, arre chaddi pehen ke phool khila hai!” This reboot is enough to make me nostalgic!
Ausmita Mukherjee

I will choose these films anytime, anywhere…
1. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
2. 12 Years a Slave (2013) 
3. Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
4. Lucy (2014) 
5. Room (2015)

Ayushi Ray, Bethune College

1. Slumdog Millionaire (2008): This movie beautifully portrayed a place which we often come across in our daily lives, but ignore. Yes, a whole movie can be made out of a place called ‘slum’. 
2. Avatar (2009): I salute this film because prior to this, I really didn’t know about world-class graphics and VFX. This is a milestone indeed.
3. Casino Royale (2006): I grew up watching a lot of James Bond movies and Daniel Craig, for me, is one of the best Bonds ever. Casino Royale also featured the girl of my dreams…  the gorgeous Eva Green. Also, it’s a perfect thriller. 
4. Inception (2010): This is a good science-fiction film packed with good VFX. 
5. Interstellar (2014): Christopher Nolan… kudos to you, Sir!
Anuvab Deb Sinha

Rush (2013), the biopic of racers Niki Lauda and James Hunt, Million Dollar Baby (2004), The Dark Knight (2008), Interstellar (2014)… that one film that gave me an aim to explore the universe, The Revenant (2015), The Hangover trilogy (2009-2013). In terms of war films, I would pick The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) and Hacksaw Ridge (2016). 
Koyena Chakrabarti, 
Auxilium Convent School, Dum Dum
1. Cast Away (2000): Tom Hanks, all-time favourite 
2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004): For 
orange-haired Kate Winslet
3. The Notebook (2004)
4. The Harry Potter series (2001-2011)
5. Moonlight: I recently watched and loved it
PS: Thank you t2 for the list of Holly films. Watching all of them is my new post-exam goal ;))
Sucheta Mitra 

1. Life of Pi (2012): It’s more than a movie… it’s a life lesson where every moment is more than what it seems. I have watched it many times, but there’s always something new to discover! 
2. Inception (2010): Master Nolan’s craftsmanship at its best. I feel Inception is the best sci-fi film of all time.
3. Avatar (2009): An enormous project perfectly executed. 
4. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015): It may surprise many but I was blown away by the movie. I never get tired of watching it in any situation, any day or any time! 
5. Inside Out (2015) and Toy Story 3 (2010): As a lover of animation films, I  couldn’t choose one. I love both and I will have both!  
Rajarshi Das, Habra

1. The Dark Knight (2008): The crown jewel of Nolan’s Batman trilogy. Ledger’s Joker performance is the icing on the cake of a fully realised Gotham City and a long, hard look at the caped crusader, his motivations and the consequences of his heroic ways. 
2. The Departed (2006): Scorsese’s double-agent masterpiece has great performances from everyone, but Jack Nicholson’s last great role firmly plants this one at No. 2. 
3. Inglourious Basterds (2009): A thrill to watch with excellent performances all around and just the right amount of humour tossed in to make killing Nazis legitimately fun to watch.
4. Catch Me If You Can (2002): The true story of conman Frank Abagnale is perfectly brought to the screen by Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. The cat-and-mouse game displayed by these two is one for the ages.
5. Gladiator (2000): One man’s quest for revenge almost topples an empire. Yes, Russell Crowe, we were entertained.
Souradeep Mitra, Halisahar

1. Split (2016): This M. Night Shyamalan thriller is eerie, haunting and nerve-wracking. I have always liked James McAvoy in the X-Men series, but after watching this film, I have immense respect for this actor. One person pulling of all those personalities!
2. Fences (2015): After How to Get Away with Murder, Viola Davis blew me away in this film. Then there is Denzel Washington… I am in love with this film!
3. Shutter Island (2010): I admit I took three days to process this film and have been recommending it to everyone. 
4. Boyhood (2014): I am a huge fan of  Richard Linklater since his Before series, and with this film I love and respect him even more. This is not a mere story, and I was very unhappy when it lost to Birdman at the Oscars, but again awards can never justify a film’s worth, right?
5. Here I just want to include all the films by Christopher Nolan: I know this is not right… but how can I ever choose the best work of this man and mention one only?
Shalini Roy

In the trying times of GST, dear t2 put up another challenge in front of us… picking our Top 5 Holly films over the last two decades. I had to scratch my head to shortlist my favourites…
1. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016): This one tops my list and I’m hooked to it. Michael Bay’s best till date, the movie tells us the true story of a handful of ex-soldiers who fearlessly defended a CIA compound in Libya from terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2012.
2. Million Dollar Baby (2004): This poignant feature portrays how it feels to fell the tree that one once planted as a sapling and reared over the years.
3. Munich (2005): Aptly presents how undercover networks are formulated over time and assassinations committed secretly.
4. Blood Diamond (2006) and Captain Phillips (2009): I’ll place them together because, for me, they are two of the most impactful thrillers of the time. The former reminds us of the blood, sweat and pain behind the glitter of diamonds; the latter shows that age is just a number for Tom Hanks.
5. Interstellar (2014) and Life (2017): These two hold the same place as they belong to the space sci-fi genre. Interstellar is truly stellar in depicting concepts of time-travel and black hole in an outstanding manner, whereas Life enthralled us with the notorious intelligence of the alien Calvin.
Priyam Ganguly, Barrackpore

The best Holly film I watched between 2000 and 2017 would be Les Miserables (2012). With the backdrop of the tumultuous period of the French Revolution, the film scripts tender human relationships in a very lyrical manner. Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathway and Eddie Redmayne essay their characters with absolute finesse. I also loved Gravity (2013) for the sheer CGI spectacle it was and for its subtle metaphorical overtones, especially toward the conclusion. The Danish Girl (2015)… Eddie Redmayne played the role of the first man to undergo a gender reassignment surgery with absolute conviction and poise. World War Z (2013), another intensely metaphorical movie with deep symbolic import. And finally the best… Inside Out (2015). It’s a film that captures the complex machinations of the human mind and emotions with unbelievable precision and beauty. It is one of those rare films that you are able to relate to at so many levels. The BEST film… for a long, long time to come.
Akash Chowdhury, Garia

1. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): The director is Martin Scorsese. The name is enough. 
2. Inception (2010): Level 1 was reality, Level 2 was the Van Chase, Level 3 was the Hotel, Level 4 was the Snow Fortress and Level 5 was Limbo… and all these were happening in dreams. No one could’ve made this concept into a movie except Christopher Nolan. 
3. Black Swan (2010): The movie shows how art is a phenomenon. It shows both sides of art, the destructive and the creative, and how these two sides come together to create perfection. 
4. Into The Wild (2007): “Two years he walks the earth. No phone, no pool, no pets, no cigarettes. Ultimate freedom. An extremist. An aesthetic voyager whose home is the road. No longer to be poisoned by civilisation he flees, and walks alone upon the land to become lost in the wild.” It’s a real ode to adventure, to forging your own path, and to eschewing materialism and modern culture in favour of something deeper, something more timeless. 
5. In The Mood for Love (2000): This is not just a movie, it’s poetry in motion. 
Antak Biswas

No Country For Old Men (2007)
Mulholland Drive (2007)
Room (2015)
Oldboy (2003) 
Gone Girl (2014).
Debsarathi Sen

As I am a big comic buff and a big-time Batman fan, my Top 5 Hollywood films will surely feature the Batman trilogy (2005-2012), with Christian Bale acting and Christopher Nolan directing. The three films (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises) had it all. Be it Liam Neeson’s Ra’s al Ghul or Heath Ledger’s Joker or Tom Hardy’s Bane. Then comes Suicide Squad (2016), with Margot Robbie’s mesmerising depiction of Harley Quinn and Will Smith’s Deadshot. There is the unforgettable performance of Gal Gadot in 2017’s Wonder Woman. She did an outstanding job in a role tailormade for her. And then there is Deadpool. Do I even need to say anything about Wade Wilson played by Ryan Reynolds? This film is more than anything a fan can wish for. With the perfect combination of action and comedy, the ‘Merc with a Mouth’ stole everyone’s hearts. I can’t wait for its sequel in 2018 and for Cable to feature as the lead villain. Also, I would pick The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017). Set in the World War II era in Warsaw, this film has both drama and conflict. 
Aritro Mukherjee, 
Calcutta University 

1. A Walk To Remember (2002) 
2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
3. The Great Gatsby (2013)
4. The Golden Chrysanthemum (2006)
5. The Karate Kid (2010)
No matter how many times I watch them, I am never bored.
Suhana Parveen

1. There will be Blood (2007): Daniel Day-Lewis played his character (Daniel Plainview) with demonic intensity.
2. The Dark Knight (2008): It redefined the superhero genre. Heath Ledger became a legend playing Joker. 
3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004): A poignant romantic drama with sci- fi in the mix. One of the best romantic movies.
4. No Country for Old Men (2007): A modern-day classic and the best from the Coen Brothers. Javier Bardem played a monster, whose next move you couldn’t guess. And boy, he did it with such intensity!
Soumyadip Basu

1. I’m Not There (2007): It’s not a film, but poetry in motion that mesmerises me even today.
2. The Master (2012): P.T. Anderson’s greatest film. Truly a masterpiece… powerfully acted and beautifully filmed… this film saw Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman at their best.
3. Whiplash (2014): A musical masterpiece that depicts the birth of an artiste, like a phoenix rising from its ashes. J.K. Simmons puts in a fierce performance… one of the greatest in this decade.
4. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015): I’ve watched it more than five times, but I still drool over the action scenes. Charlize Theron kicking ass in the backdrop of a golden sky is a feast for the eyes.
5. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) and La La Land (2016): I know both the films are completely different from one another, but it is impossible for me to rank either of them higher. Directed by Wes Anderson, Fantastic Mr. Fox is a quirky film and a delight to watch. In La La Land, Damien Chazelle single-handedly resuscitates old-school musicals like Singin’ in the Rain and West Side Story. How often does that happen? And Emma Stone’s in it… which is reason enough to watch the movie.
Arnab Sengupta,
Jadavpur University

1. The Kill Bill films (2003-2004): Everything about these films is awesome. The story, plus the chance to see Uma Thurman in an action role with the ‘Katana’ sword and in that eye-catching yellow outfit. Quentin Tarantino is a great filmmaker and another reason to watch the film is the incredible acting from David Carradine and Michael Madsen. Carradine, as Bill, reminds me of Amrish Puri.
2. Hercules (2014): Directed by Brett Ratner and starring Dwayne Johnson as the Greek hero Hercules. Johnson worked really hard to get that physique and do justice to the role.
3. Daddy’s Home (2015): Starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, who really built a good physique; a sweet movie.
4. Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Starring our very own Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor and Irrfan Khan. It was heartfelt and entertaining, yet realistic. 
Arkajit Datta Gupta, Barrackpore

1. Amelie (2001): Every frame of this movie is poetry in motion. The travelling gnome, the little cafe, Dominique Bretodeau’s memories, Nobu’s photo album, the old Glass Man’s Luncheon of The Boating Party, Paris in those quaint shades of green, cream and red... will I ever forget those? Also, Audrey Tautou was exquisitely beautiful, with poignant, butterfly-delicate expressions and that legendary dimpled smile. One of the prettiest films of not just this century, but of all time.
2. Wuthering Heights (2011): Not half as well publicised as the Tom Hardy or the Ralph Fiennes version, this movie, starring the first black Heathcliff (James Howson/Solomon Glave) makes use of natural sounds and imagery (like storm sounds, tree branches rattling….) to convey the love story of Cathy (Kaya Scodelario/ Shannon Beer) and Heathcliff, with hardly any dialogues. The film has amazing cinematography and beautiful music by Mumford and Sons. It’s raw and intense and true to the book. Won big on the festival circuit, and deserved it too.
3. Ratatouille (2007): Pixar has been releasing great content over the years and this movie combines childish innocence with maturity. And yes, a great food movie and the best animation film till now.
4. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003): Some may dismiss it as a movie that was too gory or over-the-top, but the sheer madness, the evil, twisted Deadly Vipers, the flow of the Bride’s storyline from chapel to hospital to a gorgeously animated flashback to Japan and culminating in that awe-inspiring showdown in the snow, at the House of Blue Leaves... this is powerful stuff! The music, especially Nancy Sinatra’s My Baby Shot Me Down, still gives me chills. 
5. La La Land (2016): I have a theory that Chazelle sprinkled pixie-dust over the script, else no movie could be this beautiful. Gold star for cinematography, gold star for the brilliant music, gold star for the whimsical vintage Hollywood feel, gold star for those last 10 tear-jerking minutes of The Epilogue. Also Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. ALL GOLD STARS.
Sritama Sen