Top Ten Movies of 2008

Here is my "Top Ten Movies in 2008" list. There is no way that I could have seen all of the movies released in 2008. So, this list only includes what I have seen. This is only my opinion.

This year, I've organized a group of bloggers who are friends to post lists at the same time. It's fun to compare and see what our similarities and differences are. The links to their lists are located below.

#10 Speed Racer - Speed Racer is one of those rare times where I end up liking a movie more than the critics do. Typically, I agree with them, or I don't like a movie as much as they do. But, I love the action in this movie. It's unlike anything we've ever seen before, and probably won't see again. The acting and storyline might not be the best, but the special effects and transitions are fun to watch. The movie is visually entertaining enough for me to enjoy it. Read my full review here.

#9 American Teen - I've been wanting to see American Teen ever since I read Peter Sciretta's raving review. While I don't think I'm as enthusiastic about the documentary as much as he was, I still really enjoyed it. In a way, I felt like I could identify with each teen a little, but also felt like my high school persona did not fit into any one group in particular. It made me reflect on how I acted back then and how it made me the man I am today. I felt like I was watching a real life version of The Breakfast Club where each person fits into a clique and all of them feel the pressures from their parents. I will be writing a full review later.

#8 The Hammer - As crude as Adam Carolla can be at times, I think he's a really talented guy. The man is one of the best improvisational actors I've ever seen or heard. He helped write the story for this movie that he also starred in. Who would know that he knew so much about construction and boxing? The movie not only deploys humor well, but the story is actually sweet and somewhat romantic. Read my full review here.

#7 Iron Man - I'll admit that I had my doubts about Iron Man. You can't be too careful with Marvel films these days (right, Carlos?). I came out of the theatre pleasantly surprised with Iron Man. I thought the story was well adapted from the comic book and that Downey, Jr. played a perfect Tony Stark. I don't think I enjoyed the film as much as most people because I thought the final fight scene at the end was too similar to Transformers. Read my full review here.

#6 Cloverfield - I feel like I'm right down there in the city where all the action is when I watch this film. The brilliant combination of home video camera work, great computer graphics, and long shots made this movie quite entertaining for me. J.J. Abrams produced this film and that's a big help on its success. The viral marketing was intoxicating and there are still some mysteries revolving around the movie. Read my full review here.

#5 Let the Right One In - Let the Right One In succeeds where Twilight fails. They are both about befriending vampires, but LTROI is a very well-made film overall. The cinematography was the highlight of the film for me because of the frequent wide shots that were deployed. Also, because John Ajvide Lindqvist adapted his own novel into the screenplay, you get the chance to see the story through the original writer's mind. Oh, and the acting by the two child stars was top notch. Best vampire movie of the year and best foreign language film of the year. I will be writing a full review later.

#4 Be Kind Rewind - I'm a huge fan of Michel Gondry directing style and I think that's why I enjoy Be Kind Rewind a lot more than most people. I think it's the best comedy of the year and I've seen it four times since its release already. I still love watching all of the "Sweded" clips they do. You can tell there was a lot of heart put into the script. Read my full review here.

#3 Slumdog Millionaire - At the bottom of my top three is Slumdog Millionaire. This was definitely the biggest surprise for me. I must admit that I hadn't really heard about the movie until September of this year, so in a way, it was my very own personal sleeper hit. The story is incredibly engaging and the directing, cinematography, and acting are all top notch. Easily one of the best films of the year. Read my full review here.

#2 WALL•E - I have to say that it was a really tough decision for me to make my #2 and #1 choices. If I could, it would be an even tie. I loved WALL·E so much and still love it. The character development was superb for a movie that uses little dialog for the main characters. The animation is the best we have ever seen from any animation studio. Pixar continues to put out the best CGI animated films and I'm really looking forward to their future releases. It was my most anticipated movie of the year and it did not disappoint. Read my full review here.

Here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for...





#1 - Meet the Spartans - Sike!


#1 The Dark Knight - I have to give #1 to The Dark Knight for being the biggest movie of the year. As I mentioned above, WALL•E and The Dark Knight are equal in my book, but TDK barely beats out the Pixar film because of the huge success it had in the box office and the use of IMAX technology. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Chris Nolan is one of the best directors of our time. He, along with his brother, should never stop writing screenplays. Heath Ledger's performance was my favorite of the year and I really hope he wins the big Oscar for it. And kudos to Nolan for filming some of the scenes using IMAX technology; something that will soon be a more common technique. If you haven't seen TDK in IMAX yet, you have another chance come January 23rd. Please do yourself a favor and see the film on a 6-story screen. I promise you that it's an entirely different experience. Read my full review here.

Runner-up: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

Movies I didn't see that received good reviews: The Wrestler, The Curious Case on Benjamin Button, Ballast, Che, The Band’s Visit, Doubt, The Fall, Chop Shop, Frozen River, Milk, Rachel Getting Married, The Reader, Revolutionary Road, Shotgun Stories, Synecdoche, New York, My Winnipeg, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days, Gran Torino, Wendy and Lucy, Man on Wire, Hunger, Happy-Go-Lucky, The Visitor, and Tropic Thunder.

Other Top Ten Lists:
Joel's at The Mayward Blog
Carlos' at The Carlos Word
Jason's at The LaFavorites
Charlie's at My Stupid Thoughts
Nick's at Notice: Escalator Temporarily Stairs
Brian's at The Humphreys Blog