Listmania!
2008: Year in Review
By an Amazon.com customer
CloverfieldCloverfield
Buy new: $15.99 / Used from: $0.47
More entertaining than it had any right to be, if you are able to ignore the huge logical facilies. 7/10
Meet The Spartans (Rated)Meet The Spartans (Rated)
Buy new: $13.49 / Used from: $0.49
One of the worst comedies of all-time. This one left me feeling sour. 0.1/10
UntraceableUntraceable
Buy new: $12.49 / Used from: $0.95
From one of the worst comedies to one of the worst thrillers. 1/10
In BrugesIn Bruges
Buy new: $12.49 / Used from: $2.48
Winner of the "Lookout" Award for best movie that noboday saw. 9.2/10
JumperJumper
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $0.95
Kind of a low-rent "Matrix". Drool inducing, as in great to look at but numbing to the brain. Definately leaves you with a post-labotome sort of feeling, reminiscent of R.P. McMurphy. 5/10
Be Kind RewindBe Kind Rewind
Buy new: $10.49 / Used from: $0.80
Michel Gondry goes for low-brow humor and dopey sentimentality. 5.5/10
Semi-ProSemi-Pro
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.58
Awful 1/10
Funny Games (2008)Funny Games (2008)
Buy new: $22.49 / Used from: $2.46
Unrelenting and mean-spirited, this one troubles me. I am not sure if it's a great movie or a terrible one. It earns points for being brilliant, but loses them because he had already made it before. The director just doesn't seem to care for the audience, and that is never a good thing. 4/10 (Pending further review)
The Ruins (Unrated Edition)The Ruins (Unrated Edition)
Buy new: $18.49 / Used from: $0.83
Does exactly what it should. It's scary, creepy, and surprising. Not gonna win any awards, but so what. 6.8/10
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Unrated Widescreen Edition)Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Unrated Widescreen Edition)
Buy new: $13.49 / Used from: $3.39
Another classic from the Apatow comedy machine. Even if he didn't direct it, his presence can be felt throughout. Russel Brand is a god. 8/10
Rogue - UnratedRogue - Unrated
Buy used from: $1.75
Probably the best reality-based monster movie sense "Jaws". 7.3/10
Iron Man (Single-Disc Edition)Iron Man (Single-Disc Edition)
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $4.98
Robert Downey is back. The special effects are great and the movie keeps a solid pace, but it is Downey's performance that takes this film to a-whole-nother level. 8/10
Son of RambowSon of Rambow
Buy new: $17.99 / Used from: $1.79
Very refreshing and full of surprises. 7.7/10
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince CaspianThe Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Buy new: $10.49 / Used from: $6.00
Not nearly as "magical" as the first film, this one has to rely too heavily on big battle scenes. 5.8/10
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Single Disc)Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Single Disc)
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $1.92
One of the most disapointing films I have ever seen. Not that the movie was awful, but it just didn't blow me away like I expected. The alien finale was a huge heart-crushing blow. I don't care what Spielberg says, that sucked. 4/10
Wall-E (Single-Disc Edition)Wall-E (Single-Disc Edition)
Buy new: $15.49 / Used from: $7.97
One of Pixar's best. I would put it just ahead of "Ratatouille" but just behind "The Incredibles". 9.8/10
Wanted (Single-Disc Widescreen Edition)Wanted (Single-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Buy new: $15.99 / Used from: $2.48
Much like "Jumper", this one felt very "Matrix"-like. However, McAvoy smokes Hayden. Through in some "Fight Club" knock offs and you've got yourself a decent time at the movies. 7/10
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Widescreen)Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Widescreen)
Buy new: $16.49 / Used from: $2.49
This film was a joy to watch. Del Toro is let loose and he unleashes his imagination on the screen. 8.2/10
The Dark Knight (Widescreen Single-Disc Edition)The Dark Knight (Widescreen Single-Disc Edition)
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $3.00
Little nit-picks aside, this one's a true classic. I could go on and on about the great things about this movie, but I won't. Just remember that whichever undeserving film wins Best Picture, "The Dark Knight" will be the one that people are still talking about years from now. 10/10
Step Brothers (Single-Disc Unrated Edition)Step Brothers (Single-Disc Unrated Edition)
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $6.75
Great until the last 1/4. 7/10
Pineapple Express (Single-Disc Unrated Edition)Pineapple Express (Single-Disc Unrated Edition)
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $2.96
The AMC (not American Movie Channel) strikes again. Rogen is the man and Franco shows the world what I already knew. Side note: if Craig Robinson is involved in anything, it's got to be great. 8.5/10
Tropic ThunderTropic Thunder
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $1.91
First "Iron Man" now this. Downey is unbelievable. Both movies would have been mediocre, at best, without him. 7.3/10
Burn After ReadingBurn After Reading
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $1.60
Pitt is gold and Clooney is impressive. The rest of the cast does their part to make this movie more appealing than it could have possibly been without them. 7.1/10
Nick & Norah's Infinite PlaylistNick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Buy new: $15.99 / Used from: $3.03
Consistently intriguing is the best way I can describe this movie. Michael Cera is one of my favorites. 7.4/10
W. (Widescreen)W. (Widescreen)
Buy new: $17.49 / Used from: $1.62
Light and lacking a lot of the bite people were looking for from Stone. However, I found the film to be fascinating and Stone continues to surprise. Brolin was unfairly overlooked for award consideration. 7.8/10
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2-Disc Edition)Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2-Disc Edition)
Buy new: $19.95 / Used from: $8.41
Ridiculously raunchy and coated in filth. So, of course I loved it. Rogen again scores and Banks is impressive. Smith's best since "Chasing Amy". 8/10
Role ModelsRole Models
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $3.99
A notch below the AMC standard level, but still fun. The finale alone is worth the purchase price. 7.2/10