Stark's Top Ten of 2008

The final hours of 2008 are upon us now, and as we prepare to switch out the old milk calendar with the new recipe calendar for 2009, we also start to reminisce about all the fantastic movies we watched over the last year.  There were alot of great movies that came out this year, and it was hard to get down to only ten, so if you're favorite isn't here, I'm sure it's likely just number 11 - but sound off about it in the forums and we'll keep this list growing!

Number 10 - Forgetting Sarah Marshall:  This film has great laughs from start to finish - they did a fantastic job casting the roles.  Kristen Bell is always spicing up the screen, and Jason Segel (the guy that plays Marshall on "How I met your Mother") was hilariously funny in thi movie!  Plus he does a performance of dracula, with puppets!! 

Number 9 - Run Fatboy Run: Simon Pegg and Hank Azaria are both hilarious in their own rights, but this movie is really made by the dynamic between Pegg and the supporting cast members.  Plus I always have a soft spot for red heads in movies.

Number 8 - The Bucket List: Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman combine their talents in this fantastic movie about the dying wishes of two old men. They tug on your heartstrings, and yet make you laugh the whole time.  This is a great date movie!

Number 7 - Kung Fu Panda: I love Jack Black, and he is hilarious as the bumbling hero in this animated adventure!  If your kids haven't dragged you to see this atleast 100 times yet, then you're definitely missing out!  This one has a good message for kids and adults, and the laughs are friendly to everyone as well!

Number 6 - Cloverfield: A really cool scary movie shot to look as if it was shot on a home camcorder.  It did bring back some memories of the Blair Witch Project at first, but it definitely held its own.  The cast is mainly newcomers, but they delivered!  ok maybe the low budget look helped them, but it was still a movie that will scare you and have you cheering the characters on as well!

Number 5 - Step Brothers: Will Ferrell finally delivered some great laughs by going back to his roots and teaming up with John C. Reilly as two spoiled, live-at-home 40 year olds who become step brothers when their single parents get hitched.  Obviously the two don't get along, and the dynamic between these two actors is absolute gold!  One of the funniest Ferrell movies I have ever seen, and really great to see him get back to his old self after "Semi-Pro" which was a bit of a snooze!

Number 4 - Iron Man: Obviously Tony Stark is awesome, we share the same last name!  He is a wickedly cool playboy that is incredibly smart, and develops a prototype iron man suit in the middle of the dessert.  Ok, when I write it, it sounds a bit hokey, but believe me, it feels believable and makes for an amazingly fun movie!  I loved this one, and can't wait for more!!

Number 3 - Pineapple Express: Although the gf thought this was a sequel to the Polar Express, it is far from it!  Pretty much the funniest movie of the year, but the combination of Seth Rogen and James Franco was the key to this movie's incredible magic!  I couldn't believe how funny James Franco was, since this was a very different role for him.  I think if he had taken a role like this earlier, he would be a bigger star!

Number 2 - WALL-E: This movie gets alot of criticism from some who try to sum up the movie in one line - "WALL-E, eeevvaaa", but in my opinion, this movie had real magic.  The minimal dialogue is what makes this movie so special, and the storytelling from Disney and Pixar is amazing - A must watch movie from 2008.

Number 1 - The Dark Knight: Christian Bale is amazing as the caped crusader, but this movie is really made by the performance of Heath Ledger.  He brought a whole new realism to the joker character, while still keeping the familiarity from the comic books and previous movies.  If you only watch one movie this year, this is definitely the one.

What are your favorites?  Did I miss them?  Disagree with one or all of this list?