THE YEAR IN MOVIES: 2008
1. January 1, 2008: Juno with
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rosaline924 4/5
Touching, hilarious, and witty. Ellen Page is a force to be reckoned with. Olivia Thirlby is hilarious as her best friend with a teacher fetish; Michael Cera actually didn't make me want to hurl; Allison Janney was perfection, as per usual; J.K. Simmons is possibly the only military dad I absolutely love in a movie - his devotion to his daughter proves what a fantastic dad he is and how cared for Juno is no matter how odd or out-of-place she might feel. The soundtrack is funny and poignant and the slight animation just adds to, rather than subtracts from, the overall edgy, artistic, and offbeat feel of the film. Kudos to everyone involved.
2. January 4, 2008: Fever Pitch 3/5
3. January 5, 2008: Sweeney Todd with Angelus 4/5
Overall, a bit disappointing. The music was fantastic and I was more than impressed by the singing on the parts of all the actors and actresses. I was especially impressed by Johnny Depp's singing performance, who took singing lessons in order to sing Sondheim's music in the production. Helena Bonham Carter is sweet, obsessive, odd, and slightly demonic. Perhaps a stylistic choice by Tim Burton, the blood in the movie was extremely red and somewhat unrealistic due to its tomato-like hue. However, it did make the amount of blood shed stand out from the washed out neutrals of the backdrop. The story was a bit disjointed and I felt that there was no resolution of the minor plot arcs in the end. The minor characters were all just as excellent as the man in the title role, but I felt as if the movie was both too long (perhaps because of the late hour of the engagement - I saw a 10:55 showing) and as if there were significant parts of the story that were left out (I hear there were, though I've never seen the stage production).
The movie has gotten rave reviews by everyone from Rolling Stone to Newsweek to Variety, but I left feeling that it was anti-climactic. I'm torn because I love every single actor/actress in the movie, but felt the sum of the parts lacking. The music was beautiful, haunting, and wonderfully-sung, but I kept waiting for the big finale and it never came. Overall, I felt as if the production were rushed. The themes were wonderfully portrayed and I left feeling as if I'd learned something about how revenge is never sweet, lying usually comes back to bite you in the ass, and love is stronger than we usually realize. My disappointment isn't enough to keep me from wanting more, but it's enough to still feel a bit let down by my some of my favourite actors and one of my favourite directors.
4. January 17, 2008: Ratatouille 4/5
5. January 26, 2008: The Game Plan with Angelus 3/5
6. February 2, 2008: Death Sentence with Angelus 4/5
7. February 2, 2008: Underdog with Angelus 2/5
8. February 8, 2008: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit 4/5
9. February 9, 2008: Cool Hand Luke 4/5
There is just something so electric and beautiful and serene about Paul Newman's smile. Something about it just lights up the screen and, no matter how deep into shit Luke gets, he is never broken. He resists until the absolute end and triumphs in a way that leaves only tears and laughter behind.
10. February 11, 2008: Stardust 5/5
11. February 22, 2008: Persepolis with
bratkartoffel and dora_mcallister 4/5
12. February 23, 2008: Be Kind Rewind with Angelus 4/5
13. February 24, 2008: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm with Angelus 4/5
14. February 25, 2008: A Raisin in the Sun 3/5
15. February 29, 2008: Semi-Pro with Angelus and Flip 2/5
16. March 2, 2008: Justice League: The New Frontier with Angelus 4/5
17. March 13, 2008: Nancy Drew with
rosaline924 3/5
18. March 15, 2008: 50 Pills 3/5
19. March 24, 2008: Big Trouble in Little China with Angelus 2/5
20. March 25, 2008: Tin Man with
rosaline924 4/5
Quite honestly, I was prepared for this film to be a flop. I did not purchase it, for that reason, before seeing it and waited to watch it until
rosaline924 bought it and we watched together. From the first scene when D.G. ends up in the O.Z., I was captivated. I'm not sure whether my growing appreciation for Zooey Deschanel or just the fabulous scenery, but I was totally committed. And, of course, when Alan Cumming spoke, I drew in a breath. His portrayal of Glitch was just heartwarming and so encouraging. I'll not give a review of the whole thing so as to avoid spoilers, but by the end of the miniseries, I was completely enchanted. I went out and bought the DVD for myself the next day.21. March 27, 2008: Wedding Date with
rosaline924 2/5
22. March 28, 2008: Superhero Movie with Angelus, Flip, James Gay & his bf 2/5
23. April 5, 2008: Talk To Me with Angelus 5/5
This is literally one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. The acting was brilliant and the story both moving and realistic. This movie made me fall in love with DC again and reminded me why I continue to be inspired living in the area and working inside the Beltway. It was a journey through some of the toughest times the District has dealt with and both how far life has come since then and how much work there still is left to do. For anyone interested in Civil Rights, Radio, Current Events, Politics, the history and evolution of Music, or the Washington, DC area, I highly recommend this film.
24. April 5, 2008: 3:10 to Yuma with Angelus 4/5
25. April 12, 2008: The Last Dragon with Angelus 2/5
26. April 14, 2008: Brick 3/5
Aside from the fabulous acting of JGL, the movie had this film-noir feel to it like a combination of late 90s teen drama and early 1900s pulp fiction. The manner of speaking the main character, Brendan, pulls off is just mind-boggling. He's sharp and full of wit and doesn't take no for an answer. He kicks some ass, but isn't a bully and, though certainly not expected, JGL makes you believe a kid like Brendan actually could exist in your own community. If I were in trouble, I'd certainly want a kid like Brendan to come looking for me!
27. April 18, 2008: The Forbidden Kingdom with Angelus & Flip 4/5
First of all, the fight scene between Jet Li and Jackie Chan does not disappoint in any way whatsoever. Jackie Chan is hilarious and kicks so much ass. The visual effects are beautifully done in the Chinese style and the story is like one of the best fantasy movies from the 80s. It's Karate Kid meets the Neverending Story meets Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. So, in summation, just fantastic! If you haven't seen it yet, go see it RIGHT NOW.
28. April 19, 2008: Forgetting Sarah Marshall with Angelus 5/5
Jason Segel is pure comic genius. His talents never end. His writing is witty, his music is funny, and his acting is both confident and vulnerable at the same time. Kristen Bell is gorgeous and does not disappoint in acting the part of a tv star a bit more spoiled and high maintenance than a relaxed composer like Peter would truly fit with. Everyone from Mila Kunis, who is absolutely adorable and totally sexy, to Jonah Hill to Paul Rudd and even the total unknowns are hilarious and entertaining. It makes me want to go to Hawaii, not because I want to run away from my problems, but just because I want to find that kind of peace with myself and where I am in life. It's clear that we will be seeing much more of Jason Segal (figuratively, as literally, he bares all in 'Sarah Marshall' so there isn't anything else left for him to show on film) in the future and I can't wait. If you're a fan of How I Met Your Mother, you'll love this! If not, you'll still love it. If you don't love it, you do not have a heart.
29. April 19, 2008: Street Kings with Angelus 4/5
As a serious crime drama involving crooked cops and starring a fantastic cast of Forrest Whitaker, Keanu Reeves, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, and cameos by Common and The Game, this movie does not disappoint for those who are serious crime fans. However, it did also reinforce my negative viewpoints on cops. I know most of them get into it for the right reasons and that they're necessary and that the truth of the matter is that most of them are not crooked, but at the same time, I've not had the best experiences with them in the past and this movie definitely didn't make me like them any better. However, in my opinion, it's Keanu Reeves' best role since Neo in the Matrix, so for fans of Reeves, it's definitely a must-see. If you're a fan of House, go see it for Hugh Laurie in a different role. He excels. And Forrest Whitaker just nails it.
30. April 21, 2008: The Full Monty with
rosaline924 3/5
Witty, cute, and sexy in an everyday kind of way. We laughed a lot. She'd seen it before, but I hadn't. I loved it. Hilarious and great. YAY! That's all I really have to say about it.
31. April 26, 2008: Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay with Angelus 4/5
A little raunchy at times, but completely hilarious. John Cho and Kal Penn were great as buddies, fighting and working together, getting through everything from lost girlfriends to Guantanamo Bay prison and escaping from Cuba. Neil Patrick Harris' cameo goes on a lot longer than I expected and was even funnier than I'd hoped for. This movie includes everything from Osama Bin Laden's beard to unicorns to a crash landing in President Bush's ranch. Definitely entertaining if you're into that kind of humour. And to be perfectly honest, I think it was much better than its predecessor.
32. April 26, 2008: Baby Mama with Angelus 3/5
Tina Fey is adorable and endearing; Amy Poehler is a laugh-riot. Greg Kinnear is absolutely enchanting and Steve Martin was unexpected and totally hysterical. The commentary on society was poignant and funny and this movie had more heart than laughter. If you're a fan of Tina Fey, definitely go see it. If you're not, you will be after you see this movie. Amy Poehler never fails to crack me up, but this movie is just funny, not a complete side-splitter.
33. May 1, 2008: IRON MAN with Angelus and Flip 5/5
Not only is this movie one of the best comic book movies I've ever seen, but it's also just a fantastic action movie. The humour is dry and witty, sarcastic and enjoyable, while the story itself is dramatic, engaging and certainly full of action. The special effects are very well done and the soundtrack was expertly assembled. Robert Downey, Jr. was rough, gruff, and extremely sexy in an ultimate bad boy kind of way. Terence Howard was just brilliant as Rhodes and Gwenyth Paltrow was sexy, adorable, and strong in her Pepper Potts role. Jeff Bridges NAILED his role as the villain. I warn you, however, though this is a comic book and superhero movie, it's not for kids; there's a ton of violence, lots of alcohol-drinking and womanizing on Tony Stark's agenda... and he's a weapons manufacturer, so go figure with the loads of violence. I found myself laughing, shouting "oh!", and sitting on the edge of my seat throughout the entire film, so if you haven't seen it yet, go see it now. You won't regret it!
35. May 16, 2008: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian with Kat 5/5
Darker and with more wit than the first, Prince Caspian matures the series in tandem with the Pevensie children. Lucy's faith is challenged, but remains ever-strong while her siblings find themselves relieved to be out of London and back in Narnia once more. Though a lot has changed in the year they spent in London, its nothing compared with the changes Narnia has been through in the 1300 years since the 'Kings and Queens of Old' have left. The self-exile of Prince Caspian becomes a great asset as the Narnians fight for justice and defend themselves against the Telmarines.
36. May 21, 2008: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull with Angelus and Flip 4/5
In the true Indy Tradition, this movie included fun, adventure, romance, and fantastic villains, as well as an uncanny sense of the time period in which the movie takes place. There were some unexpected twists and turns, as well a stellar character reappearance by a previous Indy favourite. Since saying too much will give it away, I'll just say this: it's action-packed, funny, a little silly, and a fantastic adventure.
37. June 3, 2008: Sex and the City with
rosaline924 (and again with Cousin Angi on June 14, 2008) 5/5
I had very low expectations of this movie going in. I was blown away. Very, very good. Good story, better acting, and fantastic clothes... and that's all I have to say about that.
38. June 12, 2008: The Incredible Hulk with Angelus & Flip 4/5
39. June 20, 2008: Get Smart with Angelus & Flip 4/5
Fans of the old tv show will love it. The movie is funny, cute, and has just enough action to keep things interesting. I'm not the hugest Steve Carrell fan, but he was good and Anne Hathaway was fantastic. Dwayne Johnson was so perfect it hurt. And as for Alan Arkin? Well, I'm a huge fan of his work in most things, but in this movie his sense of comedic timing was just wonderful. Aside from the cast, the humour in the movie was great, the effects were fun, and they even had a shoe phone!!! I'm definitely buying this one on DVD.
40. June 21, 2008: Raise Your Voice 2/5
Hillary Duff stars as a high school student Terry, whose dreams of becoming a singer-songwriter are put on hold by her overprotective father. After her brother dies in a tragic car accident, Terry's aunt and mom smuggle her out of the house for a summer at a prestigious music camp in L.A. Terry discovers that making friends is harder than she thought it would be, but triumphs in the end. It's a feel-good, inspirational family movie made when Hillary Duff was still young and absolutely adorable. The music is lovely, but I wouldn't say the movie is outstanding. It's just cute.
41. June 21, 2008: The Love Guru™ with Angelus & Flip 3/5
I went into this movie with expectations of silly laughs and raucous, immature jokes, but was pleasantly surprised to find those obvious pieces tempered with cultural references and subtle humour. I found myself laughing at many points during the movie when hardly anyone else in the theater was laughing, but, after discussing this with Angelus, we attribute this to knowledge of the wider film industry and familiarity with foreign cultures (including, but not limited to Indian and French Canadian). If you're a fan of Bollywood movies, you should definitely see this movie - you will laugh your butt off. If you're a fan of hockey, likewise (especially if you have some knowledge of French Canada). Mike Meyers was funny, as usual. Justin Timberlake's role in the movie was larger than I expected, but he proved himself once again as a great character actor. Jessica Alba actually didn't completely ruin a movie for once. And the cameos were some of the best parts of the whole movie. If you weren't thinking of going to see this, but enjoy Bollywood, Justin Timberlake, Mike Meyers, hockey, Verne Troyer, or just need a good laugh, go see it. You won't regret it.
42. June 22, 2008: Camp Rock 2/5
43. June 24, 2008: Fool's Gold 2/5
Absolute pure brain candy. Not even the rich chocolate kind. More like licorice whips. Just pure fun and not much else. It's How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days meets Pirates of the Caribbean for adventure/love story. Lots of shirtless!Matthew McConaughey, which is never a bad thing, and lots of cute!Kate Hudson. I adore her and every time I see one of her movies it makes me want to go out and watch a Goldie Hawn movie - it's kind-of adorable and kind-of sickening how alike they look. In any case, she's cute as a button and the movie was pure summer fun.
44. July 1, 2008: Hancock 2/5
45. July 4, 2008: Wall-E with
anijade 4/5
46. July 18, 2008: The Dark Knight with Angelus and Flip 5/5
First of all, let me say, in order to assess fully with complete details, I really should see it again because, as Angelus said on the way home last night, half the time I was watching the movie I was thinking 'HOLY CRAP I'M FINALLY SEEING THIS MOVIE!!!!'. I've been waiting so long for it to come out that I almost couldn't believe I was there watching it. Almost had to pinch myself.
The acting in this movie just blew me away. Firstly, it is obvious how much Maggie Gyllenhaal puts into her roles and she completely took over Katie Holmes' character. I'm almost sad that she had to die. Almost. The only thing that keeps me from being sad about that is that I know that Rachel Dawes was only created for the movies and there are far superior characters from the DC/Batman-verse that will be coming in the next movie.
The only critique I had of Christian Bale in the first movie was that his Batman-voice was a little extreme, but I think he's done a little better in this one and it's obvious he's grown as an actor and really worked on this role in particular. His scenes as playboy Bruce Wayne are amusing and his interactions with Sir Michael Caine's Alfred Pennyworth made me very happy. Caine was made for this role and uses the backstory of Alfred's time as a medic and intelligence agent to his advantage. In every movement he makes, it is obvious Alfred is a former military man and has great respect for order and justice, as well as his master and friend, Bruce Wayne. Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox was perfect. I have no critique to offer him whatsoever. His commitment to the character was obvious and his cool demeanor shined throughout the movie.
Gary Oldman did not disappoint as Commissioner Gordon. Gordon is one of my favourite characters and Oldman just nails him. He's a kind, caring man, who sees the good in people and believes that people can change. He is, however, not disillusioned that there are some people who might be beyond hope and he strives to keep his community safe from harm, and particularly his family. His faked death almost brought tears to my eyes, but his reunion with his wife was so fantastic. It was totally worth it.
Aaron Eckhart was great as Harvey Dent and even better as Two Face. Now, Two Face is a freaking fantastic character. The concept is just wonderful and Eckhart pulled it off with style. His CGI make-up for Two Face was not as grotesque as I thought it would be, but was still a bit gruesome. I was very impressed with his look as Two Face. The team did a great job engineering his look and I feel like they stayed true to the nature of the comics, so I really liked that.
And, last, but definitely not least, Heath Ledger totally stole the show for me. He really became the Joker. He was creepy, insane, but always very powerful. The Joker's sick and twisted sense of humour was present throughout the movie and I felt almost as if the story were more about the Joker than it was about Batman. I was left wondering "Who IS the Joker? How did he become this way?", which I think was part of the point. However, I'm very disappointed that there won't be more of a chance to get to find that out, at least with Heath Ledger playing him. No one will ever play him better. He far outshined Jack Nicholson and that says a lot, considering Nicholson has been known to do psycho extremely well. I'm still incredibly sad about his death, but I am glad that he was able to go out having accomplished so much in his tragically short life. His family should be proud. Personally, one of the pieces that really stood out was the storytelling the Joker did regarding his facial scars. Each time it was a different story, each as plausible as the next, and each as horrifying.
The story was well done, even if it didn't match up with a particular story from the comics/graphic novels. Everyone on this movie did well melding stories into one movie, bringing in backstory that wasn't necessarily in Batman Begins. I was impressed with the continuous plot and the attention to detail in the movie and I can't wait to see it again because I know I didn't catch everything the first time.
The only criticism I had of the entire movie was that the sonar vision piece went on a little long. It was a great concept, but maybe just a little overplayed. Personally, I think that Iron Man did better with the vision through his suit. The Batmobile and the Batpod were droolwrorthy. I will be sad not to see the Tumbler in the next movie because its ability to crush cars was pretty freaking rad, plus the way the Batpod shot right out of it? AWESOME!
Overall, I felt Director Christopher Nolan did a fantastic job in keeping with the tradition of the Batman from the gritty, noir-style graphic novels of Jeph Loeb, Frank Miller, and Alan Moore. The tone and the theme of the movie were in sync with The Long Halloween, Year One, and other novels which feature largely the mob influence in Gotham. Aside from psychotic or sociopathic criminals, it's good to see the influence that systematic crime has on Gotham City, as well. It makes it a little more real, a little more close to home; it helps bring the movie to life.
Whether it be the White Knight or the Dark Knight, the movie was all about duality of character and the inner struggle each person has with their own morals and boundaries. A classic theme never goes out of style.
47. July 19, 2008: Man of the Year 4/5
If Stephen Colbert or Jon Stewart ran for president, would you vote for one of them? Would you trust a computerized ballot system? This movie addresses the what-ifs of the voting process in the new millennium. Robin Williams stars as late-night comic/news-anchor Tom Dobbs, who ends up running for president. He crosses paths with Laura Linney's character Eleanor, who was fired by her former employer, played by Jeff Goldblum, for finding a flaw in the voting process which gets Dobbs elected to the Oval Office. Good acting, great movie. Lots of commentary on the political process as we know it. If you haven't seen it, I urge you, in this election year, to see it as soon as possible.
48. July 19, 2008: Becoming Jane 4/5
The romantic journey of Jane Austen plays out much like her novels, not that I'm complaining. The story was enthralling and the acting superb. Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy shine as the kind of lovers and friends which are those tragically-fated never to be together. The supporting cast was all played well and the costumes and scenery were just beautiful. The one downfall was that I was constantly aware that this was a fictionalized account of a biography, which had already been written into the main character's own novels. It was well done, but I couldn't help but think I'd watched this movie before (twice, in fact, if you count Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility as two separate stories). It is obvious that Jane Austen based her novels on that which she knew from personal experience, which, of course, made her stories all the more touching. Her characters, however, seem all to have met happier ends than she herself.
49. July 19, 2008: Driving Lessons 4/5
Ben (Rupert Grint), a seventeen-year-old son of a vicar and religous-fanatic mother, is not quite accepted by his peers. Instead of seeking out a normal minimum-wage job, he ends up helping out retired actress Dame Evie Walton (Julie Walters), who ends up becoming one of his closest friends. A touching coming-of-age story with a bit of an awkwardness that makes the film read as a little more real than the typical adolescent drama. I am constantly and always pleasantly surprised at how small the world of acting is in the UK; they bring the cream of the crop to the screen and the talent is obvious when those actors take on varied and difficult roles. I am, again, impressed.
50. July 23, 2008: Mamma Mia! with
rosaline924 4/5 (It would be 5/5, but Pierce Brosnan does NOT have a singing voice!)
Total SQUEEFEST. Yes, it's girly. Yes, the music is by ABBA. I don't care. I loved it. And, if you're going to see it, don't get up until the credits are COMPLETELY over. I almost had a heart attack at the end, but I'm not saying why. :P
51. July 25, 2008: Step Brothers 3/5
52. July 31, 2008: Meet the Robinson 4/5
53. August 3, 2008: Only You 4/5
54. August 3, 2008: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2/5
55. August 9, 2008: Pineapple Express 4/5
More from Judd Apatow and I can't really complain. He's a funny dude. I was impressed with Seth Rogen, but James Franco totally surprised me with how freaking funny he is. I've seen him in serious roles before, but never anything as funny as this and it didn't disappoint. There were many funny parts and, although I often think funny movies give away too much in the previews, this one kept quite a few laughs for the theaters. While it was no Forgetting Sarah Marshall, it was definitely a good one.
56. August 13, 2008: Tropic Thunder 5/5
Best comedy of the summer. It far outdid Step Brothers and, even though I loved Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder was much better. I almost forgot Robert Downey, Jr. was who he was because he really took on the character so well... and I just laughed out loud soooo much at him. He was incredible. His second great performance of the summer. *sigh* Love him. Anyway, Ben Stiller was hilarious, as were most of the supporting cast, including TOM CRUISE. OMFG, guys, I didn't even know he was going to be in the movie and, honestly, he blew me right the fuck away: SO FUNNY. Probably the best piece of work he's done in at least five years. For serious. And Matthew McConaughey as "The Pecker" HOMG. HILARITY. Seriously... if you only go see one comedy this summer, make it this one.
57. August 15, 2008: Star Wars: Clone Wars 3/5
58. August 24, 2008: Madagascar 3/5
59. No Reservations 4/5
60. August 29, 2008: The House Bunny with Angelus and Flip 3/5
61. August 30, 2008: I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry 3/5
62. September 1, 2008: In The Land Of Women 4/5
63. September 6, 2008: College Road Trip with Angelus 3/5
64. September 10, 2008: The Fall 4/5
65. September 11, 2008: DC Shorts Film Festival Opening Night Screening
Parachute 5/5
Just In Case 3/5
Niña Quebrada 4/5
The Confession 3/5
Funniest Fed 2007 3/5
Happily Ever After 2/5
Hold On 4/5
Smack Dem Christians Down Music Video 3/5
Cute Couple 3/5
Tortilla 3/5
Die Kola Helden (The Cola Heroes) 3/5
Irish Twins 5/5
66. September 19, 2008: Stop-Loss with Angelus 5/5
67. September 20, 2008: Burn After Reading with Angelus 4/5
68. November 15, 2008: Charade 3/5
69. November 15, 2008: Quantum of Solace with Angelus 5/5
Four Christmases
Bedtime Stories
Yes Man
Other Pages of Interest:
Movies: 2007
TO-WATCH LIST
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