Best Films of 2008

Personally, I consider 2008 to be one of the weakest years in dramatic filmmaking in American movie history. The best films just so happen to be animated features and comic book adaptations. There's only a few exceptions. The Reader with Kate Winslet, the Best Picture winner, Slumdog Millionaire and Doubt with Meryl Streep are all impressive dramas, but they're nothing extraordinary. Everyone will probably say that The Dark Knight is the best film of 2008, but I disagree. An digitally animated film about a trash compacting robot called, Wall-E is my choice for the #1 film of the year. That's saying something for the quality of dramatic filmmaking in 2008 by itself.

Wall-E - Pixar, the animated company working with Walt Disney has produced some of the best animated featured ever made, including Toy Story, The Incredibles and Ratatoille. Wall-E is just as great as any of their previous work. My only qualm with the film is the inspiration or lack inspiration for Wall-E's overall look. He's basically the same robot from Short Circuit. It's a look that ET modeled for over 20 years ago. Otherwise, everything from the detail in the CGI animation to the story itself is absolutely awesome.

Wall-E, a very likable trash compactor, one of the few left on the barren wasteland that is now Earth. This little robot is so lonely, he befriends a cockroach, one of the few organic creatures on the planet. Suddenly, a visitor comes down from the skies in a ship to probe the planet and find out if Earth has become a viable source of life again. The visitor just so happens to be another, much more advanced robot called, EVE. Wall-E falls in love with EVE and hitches a ride on the spaceship to follow her back to the mother ship (so to speak).

Kids and adults can enjoy the sense of humor in Wall-E. Both the writing of animated storytellers, Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter is top-notch. The direction from Andrew Stanton is brilliant. Wall-E is truly one of the best - if not the best film of 2008.

For more on Wall-E, check out these great articles by other AC Sources

WALL-E Movie Review by Crystill Murch

Wall-E: Science Fiction, Love Story, and Social Commentary to Boot by B. Rock

WALL-E: The Post Modern Philosopher

Iron Man - Jon Favreau, the actor from Daredevil and the director of Elf teamed up with Robert Downey Jr., and gave audience one heck of a superhero movie. Iron Man tells the story of billionaire scientist and weapons manufacturer, Tony Stark. After selling his newest weapon to the US military, Tony is attacked by terrorists and held hostage. In his captivity, Tony designs and creates a way to escape, and fight the terrorists. He becomes Iron Man, walking around in a metal suit that is designed with all manner of weapons and abilities. Tony can fly to incredible heights and shoot anti-tank missiles in a costume that looks cooler than just about any superhero outfit to date. In my personal opinion, Iron Man is the coolest film of 2008.

For more on Iron Man, check out these great articles by other AC Sources

Iron Man: The 1st Summer Blockbuster by James Scott Flannery

Blasting Through the Box Office: Iron Man by Melissa R. Mendelson

Iron Man by Ben Kenber

The Reader - In what is the best dramatic film of the year, Kate Winslet plays Hanna Schmitz, a woman living with a dark secret in post-WWII Germany. She befiends a young man, Michael Berg. They fall in love. But, Hanna suddenly leaves Michael without any explanation. Years pass. Michael runs into Hanna in the one place you should never want to see an old girlfriend, on trial for her life. The Reader is an incredibly deep and powerful film by director, Stephen Daldry that asks many moral questions. However, I think the story itself is brilliantly told. I mean, a film of this kind would usually give me a headache.

For more on The Reader, check out these great articles by other AC Sources

"The Reader" Wows Film Critics Around the World by Hazel Lorraine

The Reader by Ben Kenber

The Reader Review by Cathy Beasley

Slumdog Millionaire - Long story short, this tale of love lost and found in the slums of India won Best Picture at the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards. It's a brilliant film that is directed by Danny Boyle in the style of a documentary. But, there's Hollywood themes and techniques in Slumdog Millionaire for viewers to know better.

For more on Slumdog Millionaire, check out these great articles by other AC Sources

Slumdog Millionaire a Priceless Look at India - a Movie Review by Kathryn E. Darden

Slumdog Millionaire: Every Man Has His Own Destiny by Christina Valladares

Slumdog Millionaire: Best Movie in Years Should Sweep the Oscars by Aly Adair

Kung Fu Panda - Simply put, this is one cute film about a panda in ancient China who is mistakenly chosen as the Dragon Warrior. However, maybe it wasn't a mistake. Po as played by Jack Black is a big oaf. No one in their right mind would choose him as the future leader of anything. But, Po prevails as the most unlikely best in a group of martial arts masters. The movie was so good in fact, it went up against Wall-E at the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

For more on Kung Fu Panda, check out these great articles by other AC Sources

Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda by Andrew Hennessy

My Favorite Recent Movie: Kung Fu Panda by Dawn Birgensmith

Kung Fu Panda by Russell LaCour

The Dark Knight - What can be said about the most popular film of the year that hasn't already been said? Heath Ledger, the actor who died before the film opened created one of the greatest villains on film as The Joker. With his dominating and disturbing presence, Ledger's Joker stole the film from equally exceptional actors; such as, Christian Bale as Batman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman. Unfortunately to me, Heath's performance is the only truly great thing about this vastly popular comic book adaptation.

For more on The Dark Knight, check out these great articles by other AC Sources

Review of the Dark Knight by "C" SINCERE

The Dark Knight by Lori Lane

The Dark Knight by Daniel de Bourbon-Deux Siciles

More of the best films of 2008

Doubt - Written and directed by John Patrick Stanley; starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - Directed by Steven Spielberg; written by David Koepp based on a story by George Lucas; starring Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, Karen Allen and Ray Winstone

The Wrestler - Directed by Darren Aronofsky; written by Robert D. Siegel; starring Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, and Evan Rachel Wood

In Bruges - Written and directed by Martin McDonagh; starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Ralph Fiennes