A.O. Scott, in the New York Times magazine yesterday, posted a couple of interesting lists, both looking back on the last decade of movies (2000-2009). His Movies of Influence list includes the likes of "The Passion of the Christ" (for reminding Hollywood about the power of Christian-themed popular culture), "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" (for kicking off the Judd Apatow reign of comedy), and Tyler Perry's "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" (for launching Tyler Perry's entertainment empire). His "Movies of Quality" list (tellingly, there's no overlap between the two lists) includes several of my favorites of the past decade: "Gosford Park," "WALL-E," "Pan's Labyrinth," and most of all "The Best of Youth." (If you haven't seen Marco Tullio Giordana's glorious six-hour tribute to love, family and the poetry of time, for heaven's sake, go rent it. You'll thank me.)

Such lists, of course, are fun to read as a starting place for our own versions. Best films of the decade? I'd add, off the top of my head, Wong Kar-wai's "In the Mood for Love"; Pedro Almodovar's "Volver" (though Scott picked "Talk to Her," which I wouldn't argue much with); Pixar's "Finding Nemo" or "Ratatouille"; Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain"; Alexander Payne's "Sideways." Most influential? Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight," surely (which might well deserve a place on both lists); Baz Luhrmann's "Moulin Rouge," which kicked off a new era of movie musicals; and, love it or hate it, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," whose indie success spawned a slew of imitations.

And what do YOU think?