Lawrence and I watched and reviewed an astounding 20 films in 14 days, and though we dished out more negative reviews than ever before (Cutie Honey, Throw Down, Flower and Snake, The Holy Girl), this years' festival wound up being one of the most enjoyable ever. Maybe it was the picturesque weather, or maybe it was the diverse and eclectic collection of international films that never failed to entertain, shock or amuse.

Keep in mind that these are my favorite films, not the ones I think are the best of the bunch. Some of the films that didn't make my list might have been more accomplished (Palindromes), disturbing (The Heart is Deceitful) or artistically creative (Izo), but this quintet represents the stuff I ultimately enjoyed the most. Seek them out, and they will reward you greatly.

5. Kontroll

Not a terribly deep or cohesive film, Kontroll is nonetheless a hypnotic romp through the Budapest subway system that hits a host of genres to deliver a fun slice of cinematic fluff. Given the choice between this and the latest Chris Tucker buddy comedy, I'll take Kontroll every time.

4. Oldboy

Roughly equal parts stunning and humdrum, Oldboy is another sumptuous visual feast from Park Chan-wook that goes easy on the deep stuff in favor of brilliant cinematography and crazy revenge setups. Not the next Citizen Kane, but highly entertaining nevertheless.

3. Marebito

A deliriously dreamlike meditation on terror and madness, this video project from Ju-On director Takashi Shimizu is a creepy chill-out piece loaded with atmosphere. Plus it's got a cute girl drinking blood out of a baby bottle, what's not to like about that?

2. Ferpect Crime

Another deliciously un-PC comedy from Phantasmagoria Award winner Alex de la Iglesia, Ferpect Crime is an uproarious film laced with a dark, sadistic wit and Iglesia's oddball cinematic flair. The perfect way to open the festival.

1. Survive Style 5+

The best film in Danger After Dark since 2LDK and the top film in the 2005 film festival program, Survive Style 5+ is an insanely inventive comedy packed with surreal visuals, absurd criss-crossing plotlines and an absolutely brilliant use of music. The only repeat screening in our 2005 festival lineup, Survive was even more impressive on its second viewing and stands as one of my top 5 festival films of all time. The perfect way to end the festival.