Lagaan, 1942 - A Love Story, Satya, Dil Chahta Hai and Mission Kashmir are some all time favourites of mine. But they have too many flaws to be masterpieces - the best of the lot probably being Lagaan.

Some 'full-fledged' masterpieces to me are The Lord Of The Rings films, The Royal Tenenbaums, almost anything by the Coen brothers, Amelie, etc (to name some relatively popular ones ). But really, it's quite subjective.

Of course there's probably a whole lot of 'small scale' good stuff out there waiting to be discovered but is lost in an avalanche of popular trash.

If you are comparing indian films and actors with those of hollywood ones then forget it, they seems to be of two different genres with the later being more advanced. The actors does not get much scope to show there histrionics in hindi movies.

Give bollywood a spieldberg and let AB act in that, I am pretty sure that even the hardcore critics have to shut up there mouth. AB's best performance came with one of the good directors Like Hrisida, sippy and even Yash chopra (Who since some time now have forgetten the art of filmaking)

Its the director and his camera work which can ooze out the real acting. A Bad director can make the actors performance worse and the critics getting some chance to open there mouth.

Strange? Why be a FAN of Bollywood if it has NEVER delivered to your expectations? I thought fans by their very nature are impressed with whoever or whatever they are fans of!

:p