THE BEST OF...2008

Ahhh...we just adore lists. Never ending lists. So here's my list of the best movies (seen in the cinemas or DVD) last year. Its not exhaustive so bear with me ya?
Anyway, on a personal note, last year was quite a bummer for me in terms of memorable movies - especially from the USA. Not many movies that I found to be timeless nor worthy of mention. Sad. From China? Hmmmmm....can't remember any good ones too.
So, the list might actually be very short this time round.

BEST FILM 2008 - THE CHASER (KOREA)

You just have to see this audacious movie from the director who gave you Old Boy. It may sound cliche but this is the must see movie of last year.



BEST POPCORN MOVIE 2008 - IRONMAN (USA)

This is an unexpected pleasure. My favourite superhero makes quite a splash on the big screen - even better than Dark Night (yeah sorry Battie fans).



BEST MUSICAL 2008 - MAMA MIA! (UK/USA)

You can't help but singalong with this cinematic karaoke classic. Meryl Streep was gorgeous in this movie.

MOST DISAPPOINTING MOVIE 2008 - QUANTUM OF SOLACE (USA)

Its like great first time sex turned sour the second time round. Just cannot find anything good about the movie. It is sad when you have to say this movie is a bad copy of the Bourne movies.

BEST HORROR MOVE 2008 - 4BIA (THAI)

4BIA isn't a great horror movie but heck, there wasn't anything good from the rest anyway. Saw? Yecch. The Orphanage? Nearly. The Happening? What happened to Shyamalan?



BEST ACTION MOVIE 2008 - TIE BETWEEN TRANSPORTER 3 (USA) AND IP MAN (HONGKONG)

Its tough trying to thrill audiences with great action. Transporter 3 gave us both great wheel action and cool fight scenes. Ip Man was great fun especially when Thailand has been winning the martial arts movie sweepstakes for the past few years. Having said that, I wish I could put in Fury (or Chocolate) but the story wasn't really tight.



CRAPPY MOVIE OF 2008 - SUSUK (MALAYSIA)

There were tons of crappy movies last year. But most of them did not bring along the kind of hype (locally) that Susuk brought with it. Directed by two of the supposedly highly acclaimed indie directors, Susuk was pure crap. It just manages to beat Keanu Reeves The Day the Earth Stood Still by this much.



BEST ANIMATED MOVIE 2008 - MADAGASCAR 2 (USA)

Yeah yeah...I know you guys liked Wall-E....I didn't. Sorry. The list was also very short - Kung Fu Panda, Bolt, Igor...maybe next year will be better. M2 won because I laughed more watching it than Wall-E.



FUNNIEST MOVIE OF 2008 - DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN (USA)

This completely politically incorrect movie is the most hilarious movie I saw last year. It was rude, bonkers and completely funny.



So, hope this list will start tongues wagging. As for me, I just hope 2009's fare improves by leaps and bounds. Good viewing to all. In times like this, there's nothing like catching a movie once a week to make you forget about the real world.