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The Year So Far - What Are Your Favorites?

by Alex Billington
April 23, 2008

We're just about launch into the summer movie season, but before we get there, I want to recap the year so far. To be honest, it's been a very unimpressive first half of 2008. There really haven't been too many stand out movies. I've got a few of my own favorites, but there hasn't been anything that I'll really remember for the rest of the year (like 300 last year and V for Vendetta the year before it). We had Cloverfield, but we all knew that was coming, and then of course Rambo; but besides those two, nothing has been that extraordinarily good. I'm hoping this is an exception and not a pattern for 2008, because I've got really high hopes for the summer. Let's take a look at my own favorites from the year so far.

I'm always a bit biased by this time because I've seen an extra 32 films from Sundance that don't really count as releases (yet) and no one else has seen. And unfortunately the caliber of Sundance films are always drastically higher than almost everything up until this point anyway. I'll include a few of my absolute favorites from Sundance anyway, just because if I didn't think about them, I wouldn't have been able to stay a happy moviegoer throughout March and April anyway. Screw it, let's just get down to it!

Best of the Best: The Escapist, Assassination of a High School President, American Teen, The Wackness, Cloverfield

Runner Ups: Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Charlie Bartlett, Smart People, Be Kind Rewind

I'm also missing a few key movies that I haven't seen yet, like The Bank Job, Vantage Point, My Blueberry Nights, CJ7, and so on. But this isn't about me! This is about all of you! I want to hear what your favorites from the year so far are? I want to know if there's been anything really good that I've missed or if there's just been a mediocre mix of movies except for one good one (Cloverfield, Rambo, Forgetting Sarah Marshall)? Please chime in below with your thoughts on the year so far for movies.

If you need a refresher on some of the movies that have already shown, here are a few more in addition to those I've mentioned above: Jumper, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Definitely, Maybe, Fool's Gold, The Other Boleyn Girl, Semi-Pro, 10,000 B.C., Horton Hears a Who, 21, Doomsday, Drillbit Taylor, Leatherheads, Nim's Island, The Ruins, Street Kings.

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http://www.thatmoviesite.com Jeff Warner

This year has been the worst start in a long time. After cloverfield, I wasn't even at the theatre for 4 weeks! I can usually find something to go to, but there was nothing. I can't wait for May 2nd! The best so far (in order): In Bruges Cloverfield The Counterfeiters (I didn't see it till this year) Forgetting Sarah Marshall Funny Games Snow Angels The Wackness Doomsday Definitely, Maybe The Bank Job The Machine Girl Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer
Matt Peloquin

I really enjoyed Flawless with Michael Caine and Demi Moore, and Run Fatboy Run surprised me and intrigued my interest for Peggs upcoming armageddon parody.
http://www.youtube.com/YTGarbage Bob Dole

I'm gonna have to say Rambo. I kinda HATED Cloverfield ARRGGGGG THE HAATTEE!! It is like..the SMARTEST ripoff I've ever seen
Damonstration

My top 5 so far, in no particular order: Cloverfield - I think I was smiling the whole time In Bruges - Just all around badass The Signal - Some of the most awesome dark humor I've ever seen Dance of the Dead - Over the top zombie goodness Forgetting Sarah Marshall - I've always been a fan of Jason Segel, and this film didn't disappoint I can't wait for Iron Man, Indy 4, and THE DARK KNIGHT!
http://ihavehiddenyourkeys.blogspot.com Michael Hansen

I loved U2 3D.
Rob

In order: "In Bruges" (My rating, 9.5/10) "The Orphanage" (9.5/10) "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (9.5/10) "The Counterfeiters" (9/10) Was released here just last month. "Snow Angels" (9/10) "The Bank Job" (8.5/10) "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" (8/10)
http://notjustnewmovies.blogspot.com Ben

My favorites, in order: In Bruges, Cloverfield, Rambo, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Charlie Bartlett, The Counterfeiters. This summer's gonna rock.
theTruth

cloverfield was a good movie. it didn't make any promises to anyone, u got what u paid for is what i say. but can someone help me out here, what is "In Bruges"??? and i really hope Iron Man and TDK don't let me down, i really have high hopes for them both and maybe Indiana Jones but Harrison Ford is almost 101, he may get his azz beat by a one-armed man, lol! get it? get it? aww, what do u know from funny...
scar

favorite so far .... Cloverfield, In Bruges, Vantage Point (eh), The Year My Parents Went on Vacation, be kind, rewind, chicago 10, chapter 27 (finally came out in the US), Rape of Europa, city of men, bank job, snow angels, Funny Games US, Sleepwalking, Letherheads, My Blueberry nights, American Teen, Som Assembly Required , Front Runners, the visitor, smart people, forbidden kingom, roman de gare, then she found me, son of rambow, paranoid park, priceless, witnesses, boarding gate, married life, la misma luna, where in the world is osama bin laden, young at heart, the life before her eyes, A Year in My Life, The Escapist, Assassination of a High School President, The Wackness,
http://www.thatmoviesite.com Jeff Warner

In Bruges is a comedy with Colin Farrell, Ralph Fiennes (or was it Joseph?) and Brendan Gleeson. It is the perfect mix of comedy, action and just everything... it is brilliant... It comes out on DVD in June... so watch out for it.
http://www.williammize.com William Mize

When it comes to the theater, I'm strictly a summer movie guy. Everything else can wait for Netflix. But I did see "Into The Wild" recently on DVD and it's my favorite movie of the last 12 months. (cheating, I know) But damn - Sean Penn. Way to go brother.
darrin

cloverfield hands down
Pickle

"Rambo" was the best as far as action! "The Orphanage" was great as far as horror/thrillers go. Didn't see "Cloverfield"---shaky camera makes me sick. I will say that the biggest letdown 4 me was the crapfest "Doomsday" ---absolute crap. As far as controversial opinions go, "In The Name of the King", although funny, cheesy, and King Burt Reynolds -was a much better movie than "Doomsday" because of Jason Statham. IMO anyway!
Mike G.

My favorite movie of 2008 so far is In Bruges.
http://www.firstshowing.net/author/ken-evans/ Ken Evans

Alex Billington - What about "In Bruges"??
http://filmreviews.sbcc.edu Keicharones

In Bruges, XXY, Ben X, Cloverfield, Blind Mountain, the visitor and young@heart.
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

There was a lot of good stuff but nothing great yet. Not a very good start. I think this week things will perk back up then summer!
http://www.firstshowing.net/author/ken-evans/ Ken Evans

Favorites of 2008 so far: Smart People In Bruges Assassination of a High School President Cloverfield American Teen Leatherheads Street Kings Rambo The Promotion
http://www.modelmayhem.com/kevjohnphotography kevjohn

I was a bit late catching some movies from last year, so i made sure to see "No Country for Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood" before the Oscars. Those both make my list. And I just realized last week that I had a DVD of "Capote" that I'd never watched, so I watched that for the first time. Great acting, great movie. The best movie I've seen this year that was released this year was "Cloverfield". "Persepolis" was pretty neat. I'm pretty sure I would love "In Bruges", based upon what I've seen and heard of it. But it was only in the theaters here for a shockingly short run and I missed it. MERDE! I'm pretty sure the summer movies are going to end up pushing "Cloverfield" down/off my list.
http://blogger.xs4all.nl/vads Vitor

My personal order so far: 1 - Iron Man 2 - U2 3D 3 - Cloverfield 4 - The hunting party The rest were fillers.
Cool Kid

Forgetting Sarah Marshall Cloverfield 21 and Never Back Down was actually pretty solid. Hopefully, Harold and Kumar can be added to that list on friday.
Sinner

Unfortunately Alex, you already named them. In my opinion, Cloverfield & Rambo were the only two movies worth spending $$ to see. The good news is that I enjoyed both & will have em' in my DVD rotation soon. I'm 2 for 2 so far in 08".
Nick

In Bruges, Street Kings, and then Cloverfield. Everything else I've seen is meh.
Rob

Damn, I forgot about "21". Really enjoyed that. I'd give it an 8/10. "Deception" comes out this week. With Hugh Jackman and Ewan McGregor. Looks like it could be great. Oh, and did I mention "In Bruges"? It's gonna be in my Top 5 for the year. I just know it. Pity it came out early '08. It will definitely be ignored come Oscar time. But the screenplay has the best shot of being nominated. Then all three leads were award nomination worthy. Just loved everything about that film. And the moment I walked out of the theater, walked across the street to Barnes and Noble and bought a book on Bruges. And, within a few days, booked a trip there next December. But whoever mentioned that this summer is going to rock, you bet your ass. I cannot wait.
ha1rball

Hands down Charlie Bartlett
Curtis

Cloverfield - just flat out one of the most intense movies i have ever seen. Rambo - Straight up one of the bloodiest and fun movies of the year. The Forbidden Kingdom - Jet Li and Jackie Chan in the same movie, solid movie overall. Run Fat Boy Run - Simon Pegg makes me laugh hes a great actor and it was a great fun movie. I haven't watch to many good movies this year but ill have a lot of favorites by the end of this year for sure. Doomsday was a fun movie but was all over the place and the reason it didn't make it on the list and i hope to watch Funny Games soon and i have heard it was good.
cornholio_by_the_sea

I cant believe the hype around that steaming pile of manure Cloverfield...one of the most painfully boring movies I have ever sat through...the few (very few) exciting moments were not worth the effort it took to sit through it...one can only hope there will be no more of that bullsh*t coming out....
Lewis

Favorites so far: Cloverfield The Air I Breathe The Counterfeiters The Bank Job Other movies I liked: The Orphanage Rambo Tropa de Elite Under the Same Moon
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

Ken - Nahh, I liked In Bruges, but it's not one of my absolute faves... I think... It falls into the same category of Snow Angels, too. Jeff - You saw The Wackness?! When/where?! Vitor - You've seen Iron Man already?! A couple of movies I now really need to see: The Counterfeiters, Snow Angels (again), The Orphanage, The Air I Breathe...
Spider

"The Orphanage" was a great movie! So refreshing that no CGI was used, just good ole' fashioned filmmaking and awesome cinematography. This is a truly intense, creepy, thrilling ride that keeps you guessing. Too bad it didn't have a wide theatrical release, like, "Pan's Labyrinth"; word of mouth would have carried it! This is my favorite movie this year and "Rambo" second!
http://www.moviemoxie.blogspot.com Shannon the Movie Moxie

I'm surprized that I've only seen 19 regular releases, but out of those here are my top 5 in alphabetical order: Band's Visit, The Continental, un film sans fusil / Continental, a Film Without Guns Diary of the Dead, George A. Romero's Starting Out in the Evening Up the Yangtze/ ????
http://www.filmarcade.net TonyD

Here's just my top 5 for the year so far (In Bruges not included, since I haven't seen it) 1. Cloverfield 2. The Signal 3. Funny Games U.S. 4. Be Kind Rewind 5. Strange Wilderness (yes, it is this high). I've seen about 20 others so far. And yeah, 2008 doesn't look so good so far.
AndyO

no one else has mentioned son of rambow, i honestly think that its a strong runner for my favourite film of the year, it was so well crafted and funny.
Hector

I like the idea of cloverfield, it was original, but I wouldnt say its one of the bests, it will be forgotten
Rob

I liked "Cloverfield" a lot. I really did. But it wasn't great. And I blame the terrible screenplay. Loved the monster, the effects and even the cinematography. But the plot was ridiculous. Specifically going back for one person. And the dialogue.
Anthony

The only movies I have payed to see in the theater this year, so far, is Cloverfield, 21, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Everything else I watched on DVD which I'm not sure about the release date on them. I did love The Orphanage which in my opinion is one of the most original recent horror movies of the current times thatI have seen in, I can't even remember how long. My standards for the horror genre have officially risen and I'm not sure if I will see another anytime soon that will comepare. Be Kind Rewing was also pretty funny (although not my favorite). Oh and even though they came out at the tail end of last year I will go ahead and say I loved Into the Wild and Lars and the Real Girl great. I am so excited for the summer theater and dvd releases.
http://reiem.blogspot.com Reiem

Cloverfield really sucked, some scenes are almost ridiculous.
Neil

Someone mentioned "The Orphanage" on here and I couldn't agree more. I can't believe it wasn't mentioned in the original list. It's the best movie I've seen since Pan's Labyrinth and certainly the best movie of 2008 so far.