REMEMBER 2003
203Bet you guys didn’t see this one coming! But ten years ago today, I uploaded my first REMEMBER video, REMEMBER 1993. And to celebrate the tenth anniversary of that upload, here is a brand new REMEMBER video, REMEMBER 2003!
The 2000s as we know it were in full swing by 2003. The teen pop and alt-rock of the late 90s was fading out, as Rap, Nu metal and Emo were on the rise. Bands like Simple Plan, Linkin Park, and Good Charlotte rose to the top, as Justin Timberlake and Beyonce’s solo careers continued strong. Rappers such as 50 Cent, Missy Elliot, and Jay-Z really hit their stride, and many others made Rap the dominant genre of the 2000s. Lizzie McGuire star Hilary Duff began her music career after the release of The Lizzie McGuire Movie, becoming a major teen icon. Meanwhile, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera transitioned from teen idols to more mature pop stars, culminating in their infamous kiss with Madonna at the VMAs.
In the world of film, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy concluded with the epic Return of the King. Neo returned in both the Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions, as Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees finally faced. Jim Carrey played God in Bruce Almighty, while X-Men and Bad Boys continued their respective franchises. Tom Cruise became The Last Samurai, just as the samurai-inspired Bride set off to Kill Bill.
But by far, Disney was the biggest winner at the box-office with the release of five major films. Brother Bear, while mixed critically, was still a financial success. Freaky Friday, a remake of the 1971 original, far surpassed the original and cultivated its own identity. Holes dug its way into theaters and into our hearts, just as Finding Nemo swam its way to becoming the highest grossing animated film at the time. But the biggest hit of them all was Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, introducing us to Captain Jack Sparrow, who would go on to lead one of Disney’s biggest film franchises.
In the world of television, the reality tv boom was in full effect. The Bachelor runner-up Trista Rehn starred as The Bachelorette, just as many Bachelor clones premiered. Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica showed us the day to day life of America’s favorite couple, just as Ashton Kutcher Punk’d fellow celebrities. And the pirate-themed Survivor: Pearl Islands introduced us to the tie-dyed pirate, Rupert.
Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres starred in her own talk show, just as Real Time with Bill Maher began its long run. Savage and Hyneman sought to bust some myths, just as Penn and Teller exposed some bullshit. We were introduced to the hilariously dysfunctional Bluth Family in Arrested Development, just as crime dramas NCIS and Cold Case hit the scene. That’s So Raven gave us a glimpse into the future, just as we were introduced to Two and a Half Men. And this year brought us animated hits such as My Life as a Teenage Robot, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, and the biggest of them all, Teen Titans.
The sixth generation of home consoles was in full swing. Nintendo subverted expectations with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, who’s cel-shaded cartoony art style was controversial to say the least, but the game was beloved nonetheless. Mario Kart: Double Dash had you racing in teams of two, just as Pokemon: Ruby & Sapphire introduced double battles. Many sequels hit the PS2, GameCube, and Xbox, such as Ratchet & Clank 2, Jak II, Max Payne 2, Devil May Cry 2, among others. Golden Sun: The Lost Age graced the Game Boy Advance, and Fire Emblem finally came to the west. Final Fantasy X-2 was the first direct sequel to a mainline numbered FF title, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic brought us back 4,000 years before the Skywalker Saga.
2003 brought us many incredible releases, but also some stinkers. Some of the worst video games, such as Drake of the 99 Dragons, Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing, and Batman Dark Tomorrow were unleashed on us, as well as some of the worst films, such as Gigli, From Justin to Kelly, The Cat in the Hat, and The Room, the “Citizen Kane of bad movies”.
In the real world, the United States led a coalition of forces into Iraq, toppling Saddam Hussein. Despite this, the war would rage on for nearly a decade. Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected Governor of California. The Space Shuttle Columbia tragically disintegrated as it reentered the atmosphere, killing all astronauts on board. Elizabeth Smart was found after being kidnapped the previous year. And finally, we said goodbye to beloved icons Johnny Cash and Mister Rogers.
2003 was quite the year to remember. I’m not planning a comeback, but I just felt the need to make a new REMEMBER video. Only time will tell if I make another one. But in the meantime, sit back, relax, and enjoy the pop culture nostalgia trip that is REMEMBER 2003!
See how Chris Torres remembers 2003: https://vimeo.com/538891411
See how 47cartoonguy remembers 2003: • REMEMBER 2003