I rarely see films in theaters, so I often miss out on the year-end Prestige Pictures. That said, here are the top and bottom ten from among the films I did see before the year ran through.
THE BEST
1. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
This is the film I keep returning to in my mental "greatest hits" archive. Funny, sweet, and all-around wonderful, FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL is the 2008 film I'll be happy to see again and again.
2. Hellboy 2
Noone does "dazzling flights of the imagination" like Del Toro, and HELLBOY 2's amazing visuals and marvelous leaps of imagination stands as yet another fine addition to the man's catalog. If for no other reason, see this film to see a man whose head is a castle. It's magnificent.
3. Kung Fu Panda
The most beautiful film of the year, KUNG FU PANDA is filled with images so gorgeous they've adorned my desktop for months. I can't wait to see this one again on Blu-Ray.
4. Leatherheads
What a pleasure enjoy two hours of snappy dialogue delivered by sharp, charismatic performers. This movie came out of nowhere to take me by very pleasant surprise.
5. Speed Racer
Come to think of it, I think I did see the Star Child appear during that final race.
6. The Dark Knight
Everything people have been saying about Ledger's performance is true. His Joker is haunting and queasily funny and absolutely unforgettable.
7. In Bruges
A dark, sad comedy about honor and loss and redemption and responsibility. I finally get the hype about Colin Farrell.
8. Cloverfield
Ok, so it made two of the guys I went with throw up. Or maybe that was just the pre-film tequila shots. Whatever the reason, CLOVERFIELD made that which is old new again. It did so by making it very scary, the way it was when it was old.
9. Iron Man
In the words of Jim Beaver, I'd watch Robert Downey, Jr. sand his baseboards. He's got his charisma dialed up to 11 in this one, and Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow dial it right up with him. What a fun time at the movies.
10. You Don't Mess with the Zohan
I laughed all the way through this silly, over the top comedy. I expected it rough and raucous, but was pleasantly surprised by silky smooth.
THE WORST
10. Bangkok Dangerous
Great location work and immersion in one of the world's most inviting cultures can't save a by-the-numbers crime show about a guy with bad hair extensions and the cipher who loves him.
9. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Up yours. My treasure is a golden idol on a pressure sensitive pedestal.
8. Incredible Hulk
This movie felt too knowing, too cynical, too not-fun. Give me Josh Lucas in freeze frame fireball any day of the week.
7. Star Wars: Clone Wars
If I wanted to watch the pilot for some cartoon aimed at my kid, I'd tune into Cartoon Network.
6. Horton Hears a Who
This film adds absolutely nothing to the book, leaving audience members who already know the volume absolutely nowhere to go.
5. The Forbidden Kingdom
A moderately bad wuxia picture killed by its framing story and a black hole of a leading character. At least Yifei Liu is very good at standing around and looking pretty.
4. Death Race
How do you make a movie called DEATH RACE, then fail to show your audience who's racing, who's dying, and why?
3. Space Chimps
I don't know how to work "chimp" into "sucked," so I'll quote my original review: it's chimpdiculous.
2. The Foot Fist Way
It took me two attempts to get through this hateful movie that finds comedy in humiliation. I shouldn't have made the effort.
1. Mamma Mia
MAMMA MIA's a great big party, but I wasn't invited. I made four attempts to get through this one, and couldn't last more than a few minutes each time. It's as if it was made by and for people from another planet.
THE BEST
1. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
This is the film I keep returning to in my mental "greatest hits" archive. Funny, sweet, and all-around wonderful, FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL is the 2008 film I'll be happy to see again and again.
2. Hellboy 2
Noone does "dazzling flights of the imagination" like Del Toro, and HELLBOY 2's amazing visuals and marvelous leaps of imagination stands as yet another fine addition to the man's catalog. If for no other reason, see this film to see a man whose head is a castle. It's magnificent.
3. Kung Fu Panda
The most beautiful film of the year, KUNG FU PANDA is filled with images so gorgeous they've adorned my desktop for months. I can't wait to see this one again on Blu-Ray.
4. Leatherheads
What a pleasure enjoy two hours of snappy dialogue delivered by sharp, charismatic performers. This movie came out of nowhere to take me by very pleasant surprise.
5. Speed Racer
Come to think of it, I think I did see the Star Child appear during that final race.
6. The Dark Knight
Everything people have been saying about Ledger's performance is true. His Joker is haunting and queasily funny and absolutely unforgettable.
7. In Bruges
A dark, sad comedy about honor and loss and redemption and responsibility. I finally get the hype about Colin Farrell.
8. Cloverfield
Ok, so it made two of the guys I went with throw up. Or maybe that was just the pre-film tequila shots. Whatever the reason, CLOVERFIELD made that which is old new again. It did so by making it very scary, the way it was when it was old.
9. Iron Man
In the words of Jim Beaver, I'd watch Robert Downey, Jr. sand his baseboards. He's got his charisma dialed up to 11 in this one, and Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow dial it right up with him. What a fun time at the movies.
10. You Don't Mess with the Zohan
I laughed all the way through this silly, over the top comedy. I expected it rough and raucous, but was pleasantly surprised by silky smooth.
THE WORST
10. Bangkok Dangerous
Great location work and immersion in one of the world's most inviting cultures can't save a by-the-numbers crime show about a guy with bad hair extensions and the cipher who loves him.
9. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Up yours. My treasure is a golden idol on a pressure sensitive pedestal.
8. Incredible Hulk
This movie felt too knowing, too cynical, too not-fun. Give me Josh Lucas in freeze frame fireball any day of the week.
7. Star Wars: Clone Wars
If I wanted to watch the pilot for some cartoon aimed at my kid, I'd tune into Cartoon Network.
6. Horton Hears a Who
This film adds absolutely nothing to the book, leaving audience members who already know the volume absolutely nowhere to go.
5. The Forbidden Kingdom
A moderately bad wuxia picture killed by its framing story and a black hole of a leading character. At least Yifei Liu is very good at standing around and looking pretty.
4. Death Race
How do you make a movie called DEATH RACE, then fail to show your audience who's racing, who's dying, and why?
3. Space Chimps
I don't know how to work "chimp" into "sucked," so I'll quote my original review: it's chimpdiculous.
2. The Foot Fist Way
It took me two attempts to get through this hateful movie that finds comedy in humiliation. I shouldn't have made the effort.
1. Mamma Mia
MAMMA MIA's a great big party, but I wasn't invited. I made four attempts to get through this one, and couldn't last more than a few minutes each time. It's as if it was made by and for people from another planet.
