The Top 10 2008
January 4th 2009 13:45
Happy New year. Welcome to the second year of its all geek to me. After a short break for christmas I am back in 2009 with all guns blazing.
Ok so after much conversation it is time to put 2008 to bed by presenting my top 10 Movies of 2008.
This year was an interesting one filled with anticipation some dissapointment and a few genuine surprises.
10. The Incredible Hulk
This is a film that I had low expectations about but I started to hear a few good words from reviews. I always thought that Ang Lee's HULK was a film that had the makings of two very successful films. One a deep psychological drama about a man dealing with repressed anger and the manifestation of that anger in a Goliath. The second film was a rollicking adventure film where the hulk busted up tanks. It just didnt work.
The Incredible Hulk is a film that still takes the subject matter seriously but is much more fun. Edward Norton plays a Bruce Banner who is restrained and desperate to find a cure for the monster inside him.
The directors is wise enough to know that if you want to make a great Hulk movie you need to have the HULK in action and just not against tanks. They play the action very well and each indecent of the HULK builds on the one before. The fight at the end against the Abomination is truly epic and shows what a HULK fight should be. Also due to the fact that this is a Marvel Movie it plays in the same universe as IRON MAN and contains a great moment where one of the HULK's other enemies is born (THE LEADER).
9. HELLBOY 2 - THE GOLDEN ARMY
I have already spoken about this film on this blog Link suffice to say that this was a very entertaining film and an improvement on the first film.
8. Cloverfield
This is a very scary film and one hell of a ride. I loved this movie and cant wait to watch it on high def. I know that this was a flawed movie but I loved every minute of it. A film that really took you on a ride and didnt let up till the final frame. This was an entertaining film that ticked all the boxes and left me breathless. Great movie
7. Tropical Thunder
Ladies and gentlemen this is satire with a healthy dose of gross out turned up to 11. This film was wonderfully outrageous and eminently enjoyable. This is Hollywood laughing at it's self in all the right ways and ohh look that Robert Downy JR guy is in it. I think he will pop up again.
6. Australia
See my review last week to see why I have put this film on my Top 10 really a great movie don't miss it on the big screen.
5. Kung Fu Panda
This was a wonderful animated movie that I thoroughly enjoyed and am kicking myself for not seeing it on the big screen. I love this movie. It showcases Jack Black and has a story with heart.
4.IRON MAN
This is a fantastic movie and showed how much fun a super hero movie could be. This was marvel's first outing as a production company and it ticked soooo many boxes. It was fun. Treated the source material with respect. Gave it a contemporary interpretation. Was fun for the whole family. And had one of the best performances of an actor in 2008 with Robert Downey Jr.
Just so much fun that if you havent seen it, you should give it a look you will finish a film feeling like you just had a kick ass ride. All sorts of fun.
3. The Orphanage
When was the last time a movie really got under your skin? Really made you jump? And when was the last time that you saw a movie that did all that but made you think? Ladies and Gentlemen may I present The Orphanage. This is such a wonderful movie that really presents as creepy and plays on the slow reveal. This is a film that when you have finished your journey with it will leave you with an experience that is full and satisfying.
2. WALL-E
I think it is obvious by now that I am a big kid. I love animated movies and PIXAR are top dog. This is a complete movie experience. This is a fantastic movie that can live in everyone. The way that it expresses universal themes of love and longing and revels in beauty and wonder this is a truely great film that would hit the top list in any year that it was released. This will be a film that we will return to again and again and I cant wait to experience with my son. This is a special movie.
1. The Dark Knight
Ok so I chose the poster because it is my favorite one for this movie. I was sooo looking forward to this movie. It was the big film of 2008 for me. And it delivered. Christopher Nolan is a Director that I trust. He has NEVER let me down as an audience member. From Memento onwards just a spectacular director.
There is so much that will be written about this movie and has already been written about this film that I don't want to regurgitate what you may have already read in other places so I will only say that. This is the moment when a Comic Book movie transcended the genre.
What I mean by that is that this film is a great movie. It doesn't matter if you like comic books or not. It doesn't matter how you feel about Batman. This is a film that takes the larger then life characters of Gotham and by treating them with respect and intelligence creates a cinematic world that is a great movie that is exciting suspenseful, mysterious and engaging. Nolan directs a brilliant cast that each brings there A game to the film. It is dripping with brillance and by being larger than life in all the right places creates an astounding cinematic experience.
Not only that but it manages to pack as much story as two standard superhero movies and manages to present 2 villains in such a way that it is one story but no one gets short changed.
So there is my Top 10 hope it was worth the wait.
Happy 2009
Ineligible due to being released in 2007 but I saw them in 2008
Lars and the Real Girl
This is a film that I see came out in 2007 well I saw it in 2008 we get some things a little later over hear in Australia and it is one of my favorites of the year. It is an incredibly sweet and wonderful film that will get you some odd looks when describing it but overall leaves you affirmed with life and empowers you a truely sweet film Ryan Gosling is so very good in this movie.
No Country for Old Men
This is the Cohen Brothers showing signs of brilliance. This is a film that talks about choice and how a man can face a force of nature and what the consequences of such an action is. This cinema that is beyond entertainment and something that will make you think for days.
Ok so after much conversation it is time to put 2008 to bed by presenting my top 10 Movies of 2008.
This year was an interesting one filled with anticipation some dissapointment and a few genuine surprises.
10. The Incredible Hulk
This is a film that I had low expectations about but I started to hear a few good words from reviews. I always thought that Ang Lee's HULK was a film that had the makings of two very successful films. One a deep psychological drama about a man dealing with repressed anger and the manifestation of that anger in a Goliath. The second film was a rollicking adventure film where the hulk busted up tanks. It just didnt work.
The Incredible Hulk is a film that still takes the subject matter seriously but is much more fun. Edward Norton plays a Bruce Banner who is restrained and desperate to find a cure for the monster inside him.
The directors is wise enough to know that if you want to make a great Hulk movie you need to have the HULK in action and just not against tanks. They play the action very well and each indecent of the HULK builds on the one before. The fight at the end against the Abomination is truly epic and shows what a HULK fight should be. Also due to the fact that this is a Marvel Movie it plays in the same universe as IRON MAN and contains a great moment where one of the HULK's other enemies is born (THE LEADER).
9. HELLBOY 2 - THE GOLDEN ARMY
I have already spoken about this film on this blog Link suffice to say that this was a very entertaining film and an improvement on the first film.
8. Cloverfield
This is a very scary film and one hell of a ride. I loved this movie and cant wait to watch it on high def. I know that this was a flawed movie but I loved every minute of it. A film that really took you on a ride and didnt let up till the final frame. This was an entertaining film that ticked all the boxes and left me breathless. Great movie
7. Tropical Thunder
Ladies and gentlemen this is satire with a healthy dose of gross out turned up to 11. This film was wonderfully outrageous and eminently enjoyable. This is Hollywood laughing at it's self in all the right ways and ohh look that Robert Downy JR guy is in it. I think he will pop up again.
6. Australia
See my review last week to see why I have put this film on my Top 10 really a great movie don't miss it on the big screen.
5. Kung Fu Panda
This was a wonderful animated movie that I thoroughly enjoyed and am kicking myself for not seeing it on the big screen. I love this movie. It showcases Jack Black and has a story with heart.
4.IRON MAN
This is a fantastic movie and showed how much fun a super hero movie could be. This was marvel's first outing as a production company and it ticked soooo many boxes. It was fun. Treated the source material with respect. Gave it a contemporary interpretation. Was fun for the whole family. And had one of the best performances of an actor in 2008 with Robert Downey Jr.
Just so much fun that if you havent seen it, you should give it a look you will finish a film feeling like you just had a kick ass ride. All sorts of fun.
3. The Orphanage
When was the last time a movie really got under your skin? Really made you jump? And when was the last time that you saw a movie that did all that but made you think? Ladies and Gentlemen may I present The Orphanage. This is such a wonderful movie that really presents as creepy and plays on the slow reveal. This is a film that when you have finished your journey with it will leave you with an experience that is full and satisfying.
2. WALL-E
I think it is obvious by now that I am a big kid. I love animated movies and PIXAR are top dog. This is a complete movie experience. This is a fantastic movie that can live in everyone. The way that it expresses universal themes of love and longing and revels in beauty and wonder this is a truely great film that would hit the top list in any year that it was released. This will be a film that we will return to again and again and I cant wait to experience with my son. This is a special movie.
1. The Dark Knight
Ok so I chose the poster because it is my favorite one for this movie. I was sooo looking forward to this movie. It was the big film of 2008 for me. And it delivered. Christopher Nolan is a Director that I trust. He has NEVER let me down as an audience member. From Memento onwards just a spectacular director.
There is so much that will be written about this movie and has already been written about this film that I don't want to regurgitate what you may have already read in other places so I will only say that. This is the moment when a Comic Book movie transcended the genre.
What I mean by that is that this film is a great movie. It doesn't matter if you like comic books or not. It doesn't matter how you feel about Batman. This is a film that takes the larger then life characters of Gotham and by treating them with respect and intelligence creates a cinematic world that is a great movie that is exciting suspenseful, mysterious and engaging. Nolan directs a brilliant cast that each brings there A game to the film. It is dripping with brillance and by being larger than life in all the right places creates an astounding cinematic experience.
Not only that but it manages to pack as much story as two standard superhero movies and manages to present 2 villains in such a way that it is one story but no one gets short changed.
So there is my Top 10 hope it was worth the wait.
Happy 2009
Ineligible due to being released in 2007 but I saw them in 2008
Lars and the Real Girl
This is a film that I see came out in 2007 well I saw it in 2008 we get some things a little later over hear in Australia and it is one of my favorites of the year. It is an incredibly sweet and wonderful film that will get you some odd looks when describing it but overall leaves you affirmed with life and empowers you a truely sweet film Ryan Gosling is so very good in this movie.
No Country for Old Men
This is the Cohen Brothers showing signs of brilliance. This is a film that talks about choice and how a man can face a force of nature and what the consequences of such an action is. This cinema that is beyond entertainment and something that will make you think for days.
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Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
To suss out my list click HERE
Also great to see someone else loved Australia!! I got Kung Fu Panda for Xmas - watched it 3 times so far.
Was not a fan of Hellboy or The Hulk and for some reason I thought Cloverfield was 2007, loved that film!
Comment by Aldoth
I think my taste reflects the geek in me .
Thanks for the comment from one of the most popular Orble Alumni to one of the smallest ones.
Thanks.
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
And LOL - don't know if I would say
Comment by Aldoth