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I started writing this post way back in December. I noticed I had watched a good deal of movies from 2008 and I figured I’d summarize the best of what I’d seen. Then I thought, why not make an effort to see almost everything substantial from the year and post the article later.
It’s now basically June. Oops.
So that took a while, not because there were just so many movies, but so many movies that I didn’t feel particularly motivated to see, even if they were considered good. Slow going.
The basic guidelines for me to watch the movie were basically,
- I wanted to see it (simple enough) OR
- Considered “good”, by IMDB + minimum X thousand voters or received Academy Award consideration
Disclaimers:
- I am opinionated, but I’m also stupid, so I make no claims to what a good move actually is or should be, these are just things I liked better than others
- I have a terrible memory when it comes to watching movies- I can barely remember why I gave The Bank Job an 8, and am almost inclined to drop it to a 7- scores definitely depend on my state of mind and mood
So let’s revisit 2008, based from my IMDB vote history:
My top 5 movies:
- The Dark Knight (ranked 10/10): Completely implausible in a real world sense, but absolutely plausible in a super hero world sense. Got snubbed in the Oscars because it was a super hero movie, but it’s much more than that- it’s the true nature of good and evil, there really is no “good” and there is no “evil”. It’s just relative to any given person or situation, in that moment of time.
- Slumdog Millionaire (9/10): I thought Vietnam was poor. Not even close. A great soundtrack, story, and hero you want to root for. Even Mike, the anti-romantic, liked it a lot.
- The Wrestler (9/10): Will convince you Mickey Rourke is not an absolute scumbag, and teach you everything you’ll ever want and need to know about pro wrestling. RIP Ultimate Warrior.
- Revolutionary Road (9/10): Will someone give Leo an Oscar? I liked Kate Winslet more here than in The Reader.
- Gran Torino (9/10): Let the racist in me like and appreciate the Hmong. Felt real.
Honorable Mentions (in no particular order, I mention these because they left a particular impression on me):
- Death Race: I really liked this. I ranked it a 7 on IMDB, yet gave Statham’s other movie The Bank Job, an 8, but would definitely rather see Death Race again before it. It’s just a well done action movie, I loved the spectator sport style (you’re the spectator), with ESPN and pay-per-view overlays.
- Definitely Maybe: I love Ryan Reynolds. Mancrush love.
- Kung Fu Panda: Surprised me how many Vietnamese people enjoyed this movie, clapping and going hysterical at the theatre. What jokes were lost in translation were somehow made up by hilarious reinterpretations along the way.
- Taken: Full bore action with a simple lot. Not a dumb plot, just simple. Liam Neeson is a bad ass.
- Get Smart: Really surprised me how much I enjoyed this. I really like Anne Hathaway.
- Iron Man: In my book, it earned an extra rating point on just how well it ended. Why can’t more movies do something like that? It ended when you didn’t want it to end, not when you knew it was coming.
- Redbelt: The last scene is just incredibly intense. And no dialogue!
- Rachel Getting Married (poster pictured above): Along with Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Anne Hathaway puts in the best female performance I saw last year. Had no idea of what the movie was like going in.
Here are my rankings for movies released in 2008 (73 in all):
| Movie Title | Rating |
| The Dark Knight (2008) | 10 |
| Definitely, Maybe (2008) | 9 |
| Gran Torino (2008) | 9 |
| Revolutionary Road (2008) | 9 |
| Slumdog Millionaire (2008) | 9 |
| The Wrestler (2008) | 9 |
| Bolt (2008) | 8 |
| Changeling (2008) | 8 |
| Frost/Nixon (2008) | 8 |
| Get Smart (2008) | 8 |
| Iron Man (2008) | 8 |
| Kung Fu Panda (2008) | 8 |
| Milk (2008/I) | 8 |
| Nothing But the Truth (2008) | 8 |
| Punisher: War Zone (2008) | 8 |
| Rachel Getting Married (2008) | 8 |
| Redbelt (2008) | 8 |
| Taken (2008) | 8 |
| The Bank Job (2008) | 8 |
| The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) | 8 |
| The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) | 8 |
| Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008) | 8 |
| Death Race (2008) | 7 |
| Defiance (2008) | 7 |
| Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) | 7 |
| Hancock (2008) | 7 |
| Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) | 7 |
| Horton Hears a Who! (2008) | 7 |
| How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008) | 7 |
| In Bruges (2008) | 7 |
| Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) | 7 |
| Man on Wire (2008) | 7 |
| Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2008) | 7 |
| Ong bak 2 (2008) | 7 |
| Pineapple Express (2008) | 7 |
| Role Models (2008) | 7 |
| Speed Racer (2008) | 7 |
| Step Brothers (2008) | 7 |
| The Incredible Hulk (2008) | 7 |
| The Reader (2008) | 7 |
| Traitor (2008) | 7 |
| Tropic Thunder (2008) | 7 |
| Tyson (2008) | 7 |
| Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) | 7 |
| WALL·E (2008) | 7 |
| Yes Man (2008) | 7 |
| Appaloosa (2008) | 6 |
| Batman: Gotham Knight (2008) (V) | 6 |
| Be Kind Rewind (2008) | 6 |
| Cadillac Records (2008) | 6 |
| Maradona by Kusturica (2008) | 6 |
| Pride and Glory (2008) | 6 |
| Quantum of Solace (2008) | 6 |
| Rambo (2008) | 6 |
| RocknRolla (2008) | 6 |
| Seven Pounds (2008) | 6 |
| Sex and the City (2008) | 6 |
| Sex Drive (2008) | 6 |
| The Edge of Love (2008) | 6 |
| The Escapist (2008) | 6 |
| The X Files: I Want to Believe (2008) | 6 |
| You Don’t Mess with the Zohan (2008) | 6 |
| 21 (2008) | 5 |
| Burn After Reading (2008) | 5 |
| Eagle Eye (2008) | 5 |
| Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008) | 5 |
| Semi-Pro (2008) | 5 |
| The Duchess (2008) | 5 |
| Transporter 3 (2008) | 5 |
| Wanted (2008) | 5 |
| Yonkers Joe (2008) | 5 |
| Max Payne (2008) | 3 |
| Street Kings (2008) | 3 |
I agree with Slumdog and The Wrestler. Personally, I rank Dark Knight at #3. I’d also rank TAKEN in my TOP 5 this year. Great film.
I did like Taken a lot. Simple but effective. I think I may like it more than any of the Bourne movies.