Best and Worst movies of 2008

[diceman]

Been nurturing a list this year, watched 386 movies in total. Here are my results (just considering new releases, though):

Top 10:
HOLLYWOOD
- No Country for old Men
- Dance of the Dead
- John Rambo
- My Name is Bruce
- Kung Fu Panda
- The Midnight Meat Train
- Wanted
- Sweeney Todd
- Death Race
- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

ASIAN
- Girl Sparks (Japan)
- Tokyo Gore Police (Japan)
- Sisterhood: Chikyu de tatta futari (Japan)
- Sukiyaki Western Django (Japan)
- LoveDeath (Japan)
- Dainipponjin (Japan)
- Chocolate (Thailand)
- The Machine Girl (Japan)
- CJ7 (Hong-Kong)
- The Chaser (Korea)

EUROPE/OTHERS
- Doomsday (UK)
- Martyrs (France)
- Eden Lake (UK)
- Timecrimes (Spain)
- J.C.V.D. (France)
- The Investigator (Hungary)
- The Wave (Germany)
- The Protocol (France)
- Tale 52 (Greece)
- Hush (UK)



Flop 5:
HOLLYWOOD
- Cloverfield
- The Day the Earth stood still
- Speed Racer
- The Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
- Senseless

ASIAN
- Sasori (Hong-Kong)
- Spider Lilies (Taiwan)
- Triangle (Hong-Kong)
- Afro Samurai (Japan)
- The Girls Rebel Force of competitive Swimmers (Japan)

EUROPE/OTHERS
- Dying Breed (New Zealand)
- Krabat (Germany)
- Lady Blood (France)
- 36 Steps (Argentinia)
- Mother of Tears: The third Mother (Italy)



Biggest disppointment due to huge expectations:
"The Dark Knight".

Watched randomly/due to recommendation without greater personal hopes, but which in the end still turned out to be a pleasant surprise:
"Repo: The genetic Opera" and "J.C.V.D".

Outstanding, memorable Performance:
- Tom Cruise ("Tropic Thunder"): greatest asshole-performance ever
- Jean Claude van-Damme ("J.C.V.D.")
- Sylvester Stallone ("Rambo 4")
- Heath Ledger ("The Dark Knight"): Awesome character in a sadly more than mediocre movie.
- Bruce Campbell ("My Name is Bruce") just for being Bruce Campbell.

Most memorable/intense moment:
The last half hour of "Martyrs": Nightmarish, disturbing, hypnotic.

Looking forward in 2009:
- "Ichi" (Fumihiko Sori)
- "Love Exposure" (Sion Sono)
- "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" (Jee-Woon Kim)
- "Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge" (Takuji Kitamura)

Some new, rather pleasant discoveries on DVD:
- Love my Life (Japan)
- Inside (France)
- Boarding Gate (France)
- The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (Japan)
- Southland Tales (USA)
- Memories of Matsuko (Japan)
- Dead Man's Shoes (UK)
- London to Brighton (UK)

[HungFist]

2008 films only (not 2007 films that arrived local cinemas in 2008), ratings included.

1. Rambo (2008) - 4.5
2. Tôkyô sonata (2008) - 4
3. The Dark Knight (2008) - 4
4. Doomsday (2008) - 4
5. Sparrow (2008) - 4
6. The Sky Crawlers (2008) - 3.5
7. Chocolate (2008) - 3.5
8. The Midnight Meat Train (2008) - 3.5
9. Martyrs (2008) – 3
10. Street Kings (2008) - 3
11. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) - 3
12. Ashes of Time Redux (2008) - 3
13. Three Monkeys (2008) - 2.5
14. The Cottage (2008) - 2.5
15. Bangkok Dangerous (2008) - 2.5
16. Eden Lake (2008) - 2.5
17. Tôkyô Gore Police (2008) - 2.5
18. Gomorra (2008) - 2.5
19. Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008) - 2.5
20. Quarantine (2008) - 2.5
22. Quantum of Solace (2008) - 2.5
22. Silence de Lorna, Le (2008) - 2
23. OneChanbara: The Movie (2008) - 1.5
24. Dante 01 (2008) - 1

General personal 2008 statistics (no matter when the film was produced).

Films seen for the first time: 329
Average rating: 2.7 (out of 5)

I felt that there was an unplanned change in my ratings last summer when I came back from Japan, and this calculation proves it true. Or then I just saw weaker movies during the second half of 2008.



Masterpieces (4.5-5)

Red Peony Gambler 5
Gaichu
Shiki-Jitsu
Rambo
Quick-Draw Okatsu
Descent, The
Pink Hip Girl
Saigo no tokkotai
Tony Takitani
It’s Only Talk
Showa zankyo-den 2
+ Sukeban Deka Season 1 (TV)

Bad movies (1-1.5)

Massacre in Dinosaur...
Man From Deep River
OneChanbara
Exorcist 2: The Heretic
Moon Child
Shamo
Captain Abu Raed
Son of Rambow
Time Adventure: zeccho...
Austin Powers 3
World of Geisha, The
Sengoku Rock: Female...
Angel Target
Secretary Rope Discipline
Hakui nawa dorei
Hebi to muchi
Jitsuroku Abe Sada
Kairo
Eros
Irogoyomi ooku hiwa
Mantis Wife’s Confession
Woman in the Box
Story of a Nymphomaniac
Nawa to hada
Dante 01
Garden State
Noble Lady: Bound Vase
City of Lost Children
Shiofuki ama
Nawa to chibusa
Shiiku hen
Hebi no ana
Almost Human
Hex
Pink Flamingos
Mitsuryo-zuma: oku no...
Office Love: Sanctuary...
Love Letter (1981)
Pink Physical Examination
Jitsuroku onna... Sei-jigoku
OL Nikki: Mesuneko No...
OL Nawa Dorei
Aoi onna
Nureta tsubo
Onna kyoshi nawajigoku
Hell Has no Boundary
Wife to Be Sacrificed
Bloody Parrot
Portrait in Crystal
Dirty Sister’s Barber Shop
World of Geisha II, The
Intruder, The (1997)
Kuikomi ama midaregai
Match Factory Girl, The
Mischievous Lolita...
Female Teacher in Rope...
Nausicaä of the Valley of...
Pink Physical Examination
Office Love: Sanctuary...
Appleseed: Ex Machina
Secret Sunshine
Vexille

DVD stats

DVD debut award
Hitokiri (Wild Side Video)
Roaring Fire (Toei)
Delinquent Girl Boss series (Toei)

Most exciting purchases
- Sukeban Deka Season 1 (R2J)
- Sogo Ishii: Punk Years (R2J) (7 Disc)

DVD purchase screw up
Rapid Fire (for fuck’s sake, I thought this was Showdown in Little Tokyo. I’ve seen Rapid Fire already. Fuckin brainmalfunction.)

Personal DVD discovery
- Men From The Gutter (one of the seminal 80’s HK action / crime films)

Amount of DVDs purchased
- I don't keep track, I don't like heart attacks

Amount of DVDs sold
- 54

Other

What new did I do this year
- Briefly introduced myself to Italian genre cinema (cannibals, post apocalypse)

2009 looking forward to seeing (2008 & 2009 films)
- Kimi no tomodachi
- Love Exposure
- Buy a Suit

2009 keeping an eye on (2008 & 2009 films)
- Girl Sparks
- Love Fight
- Heaven’s Door
- Kill
- Echo of Silence
- Coweb
- High Kick Girl

[gasteropod]

Those lists are overwhelming lol, I can't even remember all the films I watched in '08.

[HungFist]

Those lists are overwhelming lol, I can't even remember all the films I watched in '08.

You're supposed to keep list of them as you watch them

[Yi-Long]

Those lists are overwhelming lol, I can't even remember all the films I watched in '08.

You're supposed to keep list of them as you watch them

Damn... I missed that memo...

[Markgway]

Didn't go to the cinema much in 2008. Saw a handful of films on DVD but didn't keep track of which. Based on what's been posted so far here are my ratings (out of ****).

No Country for old Men ***
Rambo ***
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull **
The Dark Knight (2008) **.5
Quantum of Solace (2008) ***
There Will Be Blood **

Ratings subject to chance upon any subsequent viewings.

[Yi-Long]

My ratings, out of 5

Rambo: 3.5/5 Very solid straight-to-the-point 80's style action-movie. Awesome. Just dont expect much depth, but just enjoy the short but sweet ride.

Kung Fu Panda: 4/5 A little bit TOO straightforward and short, but oh so much fun and ironically better choreographed fightscenes than pretty much anything released in recent years, taking full advantage of the CGI capabilities. The 2D art in the beginning is stunning as well btw.

Wall-E 4/5 Great movie, and a great accomplishment, but less 'fun' than a KFP. However, that doesnt stop it from being a great movie. Far from it.

I'll rewatch Kung Fu Panda lots more than Wall-E, but Wall-E is the better movie of the two, in terms of characters, music, depth, etc. You WILL care about the little robot, and it's stunning that it takes mere minutes to start loving him. Something I had my doubts about when just looking at stills and going :'wait... so this is about a mute crappy robot!?'

The Dark Knight 4.5/5 Great great superhero movie, and great performances by everyone involved. Some very small niggles cause me to give this a 4.5 outta 5 instead of a 5/5, like the action-choreography and Batman's 'raspy voice' even when talking to Alfred(!)
It's nice to see that Hollywood finally seems to understand how to make Batman work on the big screen.

[romerojpg]

Speed Racer..........

[grim_tales]

My ratings (out of 5), that I can remember I've seen - some cinema, some DVD

Hancock: 3.5
The Dark Knight: 4.25
Lust Caution: 4.25
North By Northwest: 5
City of Violence: 4
Quantum of Solace: 3.75
Mama Mia!: 5
Madagascar 2: 3
Home Alone: 4.5
The Lives of Others: 4
The One Armed Swordsman: 4
Opium and the Kung Fu Master: 4.25
Flash Point: 3.5
I Am Legend: 3
The Thief of Bagdad (1940): 4.25
Scanners: 3.5
Naked Lunch: 3.5
Bad Boys 2: 3
Body Heat: 3.5
Save The Green Planet: 4.25

[bradavon]

It's best and worst movies "of 2008" Grim .

You're supposed to keep list of them as you watch them

You're such a geek. I'd rather drink beer .

Off the top of my head:

Great:

Rambo 4 - 7 out of 10 - Such a joy after all the CGI shite of recent years
Dark Knight - 8 out of 10 - Amazing, those who gave it a poor score have no taste
The Changeling - 8 out of 10 - Excellent
There will be Blood - 9 out of 10 - Outstanding
Hunger - 8 out of 10 - Brilliant

Rubbish:

Indy 4 - 3 out of 10 - So dire
Quantum of Solace - 4 out of 10 - Such a let down

Somewhere in the middle:

No Country for Old Men - 6 out of 10 - I don't get the Coen's

[gasteropod]

Edit: new list further down.

[luckystars]

5.0/5.0
None!

4.5/5.0
Burn After Reading


4.0/5.0
Dark Knight
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Step Brothers
Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon
Transporter 3
WALL·E


3.5/5.0
The Day the Earth Stood Still
The Forbidden Kingdom
Hancock
Iron Man
The Incredible Hulk
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Quantum of Solace
Taken
Tropic Thunder


3.0/5.0
Doomsday
Fatal Move


Still to see:
Champions
Defiance (2009 UK)
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Ip Man
Legendary Assassin
The Love Guru
Max Payne
The Spirit (2009 UK)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Wushu



Comments?

[gasteropod]

OMG, I totally forgot about Iron Man! And I've just watched WALL-E so need to add that too lol.

[bradavon]

Iron Man was pretty good. I cannot fault the story, script or film-making. All excellent, it's just that it was all a little bland.

It could've seriously done with my action. It took a long time to not really get anywhere. I have high hopes for a better sequel.

[gasteropod]

Best of 2008:

The Dark Knight
WALL-E
Iron Man
Burn After Reading
Be Kind Rewind


Runners-up:

Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Cloverfield
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
CJ7
Chocolate


Worst of 2008:

Quantum of Solace
Rambo


Best '07 films released here in '08:

No Country for Old Men
Juno
There Will Be Blood
La Antena


Films I meant to check out but didn't:

Pineapple Express
Tropic Thunder


Ahh, a much more satisfying list.

[bradavon]

Why didn't you like Rambo?

[gasteropod]

It really bored me, it was just people getting shot constantly and I found nothing to engage me.

[bradavon]

Fair enough.

Isn't that essentially the basis for all martial arts flicks? (getting beaten up)

[gasteropod]

I daresay there's quite a difference between someone shooting a gun, and martial artists performing intricately choreographed moves and stunts. Rambo shooting someone vs. Jackie Chan's end fight in Drunken Master II... hmmm.

[gasteropod]

and Batman's 'raspy voice' even when talking to Alfred(!)

He only does that on Batman Begins (when he's been poisoned, set on fire, and knocked out a window (!)).

[saltysam]

Dark Knight 3.5/5 (don't believe the hype)
Iron Man 3.5/5
Wanted 3.5/5
Ip Man 3/5
Chocolate 3.5/5
Kung Fu Panda 3.5/5
Death Race 1.5/5
Bank Job 3.5/5
Forbidden Kingdom 3/5
Cloverfield 3.5/5
CJ7 2.5/5
Rambo 2.5/5
Hancock 2.5/5
Incredible Hulk 3/5
Doomsday 3/5
Mother Of Tears 1.5/5
Rec 4.5/5
Sweeney Todd 3/5
The Cottage 2.5/5
Shoot Em Up 3/5
Transporter 3 2.5/5 (disappointing sadly)
Frontiers 3/5
Machine Girl 3/5



fairly consistent batch this year but certainly no classics among them.

[grim_tales]

I thought it was just best movies you saw in 2008, not that the movies had to be made in 2008. I havent seen many then

[thelostdragon]

Movies:
The Incredible Hulk - 3.5/5
Batman: Gotham Knight - 4/5
The Dark Knight - 4.5/5
Southland Tales - 1.5/5
Eastern Promises - 3.5/5
American Gangster - 2.5/5
The Chaser - 4.5/5

TV Series:
Nip/Tuck - Season 5 - 4/5
Prison Break - Season 4 - 3.5/5
Lost - Season 4 - 5/5

[romerojpg]

I
Rambo 4 - 7 out of 10 - Such a joy after all the CGI shite of recent years

You must have watched a different film to what was made, its chock full of CGI from beginning to end.

[Yi-Long]

I
Rambo 4 - 7 out of 10 - Such a joy after all the CGI shite of recent years

You must have watched a different film to what was made, its chock full of CGI from beginning to end.

Damn... I thought those heads popping off and fountains of blood were real....