Twilight (2008) - So this overwrought teen drama that I never thought I would be able to stomach turned out to be completely watchable. But also juvenile garbage. Just how the mass market likes it. Average

Ong Bak 2 (2008) - Tony Jaa delivers another round of stunningly choreographed fight scenes. As expected the story isn’t up to much and most of the characters are so badly under developed that following the general thread can be difficult at times. But when it’s good it’s really good - even if it doesn’t know whether to take itself seriously or fall into parody. Average

Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2008) - One of the best music band documentaries you are likely to watch. Anvil follows the band hailed as the demi-gods of Canadian metal - borne of the late 70’s and never quite made it big due largely to their lack of songwriting talent rather than the enormous amount of passion they put into their craft. We go on a disastrous tour with them around Europe and see the strain of recording a new album as it breaks them on so many occasions. Is it ok to laugh at the broken dreams of these men in their fifties who lack self awareness and have sacrificed so much to follow a dream they don’t seemed destined to achieve? I think the what-happens-next aspect of this doco ensures a lasting feel good vibe. Recommended

Stanley Kubrick’s Boxes (2008) - As a huge Kubrick fan I was intrigued by the prospect of a documentary that promised to reveal further insight into his genius. However in this rather unsatisfying exposé we learn little more than the fact that Stanley had a staggering amount of boxes filled mostly with location shots for films (including some which never eventuated). Yes, we see more evidence of his infamous attention to detail, but with the incredible access this filmmaker had to these files I had far higher expectations. Average

35 Rhums (35 Shots of Rum) (2008) - French auteur Claire Denis presents a beautiful and simple film about the lives of four characters living in the outskirts of Paris. In true voyueristic style you see their ineractions which are not always in context, or full understood, but this just places more emphasis on the atmosphere and the unspoken moments. A bittersweet gem. Recommended

Food Inc. (2008) - Perhaps the most unfortunate after-effect of the Michael Moore era of mainstreaming the documentary has been the lack of serious unbiased debate about issues. The corporatisation of the food supply is a great target for discussion, but instead the filmmakers here attacked the subject with a scattershot collection of fears and anti-capitalist rhetoric without any rebuttal. So we end up with a film made by food radicals trying to push an idealist agenda which ultimately damages the credibility of the serious points that needed to be made. For better and more rational coverage check out King Corn made a year earlier. Avoid

La Mujer Sin Cabeza (The Headless Woman) (2008) - Argentinian film in which a woman hits something with her car, then lapses into a form of amnesiac state. We follow her through an enigmatic dissociative journey and interactions with people. It's a beautifully crafted metaphysical abstract work unlike anything I have seen recently. Recommended

A Film with Me in It (2008) - An Ian Fitzgibbon directed dose of Irish humour as dark as Guinness. The character driven plot (featuring Dylan Moran and Mark Doherty) builds momentum nicely as freak accidents occur to a group of depressive housemates and things evolve in a meta-fiction direction. Average

Red (2008) - A reclusive man (played by Brian Cox) becomes the victim of a random act of violence, the killing of his beloved dog, courtesy of three teens. He sets about retribution in what can loosely be described as Marley and Me meets Gran Torino. An ok watch but nothing exceptional. Bonus: Robert Englund is still creepy, even without the makeup. Average

Welcome to Macintosh (2008) - A behind-the-scenes look back at the history of Apple and the evolution of the company. I’m a borderline fanboy, and much of this was a fascinating insight, though not a particularly compelling watch. One just for the fans. Average

RocknRoller (2008) - If, like me, you enjoyed ‘Snatch’ and ‘Lock Stock...’ then Guy Ritchie’s latest gangster crime flick is largely redundant. The dark humour and visual style are present, but the dialogue no longer sounds fresh and it all amounts to an anticlimax. Average

Tulpan (2008) - You won’t see a better film about nomadic sheep herders in Kazakhstan this year. This is ethnographic cinema verite styled world-cinema at it’s best. The windswept steppe in southern Kazakhstan jusxtaposed with the story of a young man returning from the Russian navy with a desire to find a wife and settle down. Recommended

Man on Wire (2008) - An entertaining look at Philippe Petit’s 1974 attempted to walk a tight rope between the twin towers of the World Trade Center. It’s a well told account in true heist style with some beautiful imagery, reenacted scenes and historic footage. Petit is a fascinating individual and his mischievous nature and energy keep the momentum moving as the story unfolds. Recommended

Mamma Mia! (2008) - It seems the real success here is creating an ABBA musical movie that isn’t terrible. Somehow all the silliness and poor choreography works as entertainment. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s a light and flimsy story with ABBA songs sometimes very awkwardly inserted. Average

Baby Mama (2008) - SNL regulars Tina Fey and Amy Poehler team up in a mediocre comedy about a businesswoman who dreams of having a baby but discovers she is infertile. It never shows any real depth and suffers greatly from its predictability. Avoid

Dean Spanly (2008) - Kiwi director Toa Fraser follows up No. 2 with a pretty good Edwardian tale starring Peter O’Toole, Sam Neill and Bryan Brown. It’s an eccentric tale that is both original and engaging, but it does require a great deal of patience and imagination. Average

Hunger (2008) - Debut film from UK director Steve McQueen that recreates the last six weeks of the life of Irish republican hunger striker Bobby Sands. It’s a visually beautiful film that does not seek to lecture on the politics of the time, but rather just tell of how the film affected individual characters involved. There are a lot of unconventional film devices used including an impressive 17 minute narrative segment. Recommended

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) - Nice premise - a young boy (the son of a commandant at a concentration camp) creates a friendship with a Jewish boy in the camp. A touching story told through innocent eyes. The problem is it’s entirely implausible, overly sentimental, and highly exploitative. Not helped by the upper-class English accents that come off sounding terribly self-righteous. Even as a parable it does not work. Avoid

Speed Racer (2008) - The Wachowski Bros were given way too much rope with this skittles-induced-coma of a film adaptation of the classic Japanese anime series. It’s not visionary or experimental, just awful. Avoid

Rudo y Cursi (2008) - A light but clever comedy written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón’s little brother Carlos (who co-wrote ‘Y tu mamá también’ which also stars Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal). The story follows two competitive brothers who become professional soccer players and each dream of building a house for their mother. The humour nicely takes the edge off the serious tone by way of gentle parodies of Mexicana traditions such as ranchera music and illegal gambling. Recommended

Vals Im Bashir (Waltz With Bashir) (2008) - I will straight out confess that I find rotoscoping (animation by tracing over live-action film) to be terribly distracting. Unquestionably beautiful when done well, but distracting nonetheless. However, I’ve never seen it done better than here, where it is used by director Ari Folman to recall the past Lebanon War in the eighties by interviewing people who were there. This is inventive and profound filmmaking. Recommended

Ip Man (2008) - The semi-biographical account of Yip Man, who taught the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun (think Bruce Lee). There are some great fight sequences and an uplifting plotline - though much of the film is fictionalised from the real life events. A sequel is already underway. Recommended

Cloverfield (2008) - In a film about monsters/aliens attacking New York, it’s a little ironic that it is the ‘self-absorbed youth’ sub plot that comes off as the most contrived aspect of this J.J. Abrams produced big budget experiment. Etirely watchable but equally predictable and shallow.  Average

Taken (2008) - Using only his on-screen intensity, Liam Neeson transforms the most preposterous action thriller plot you can imagine into something you will never get bored with. Despite engaging all of the cliches associated with the Euorpean underworld, it still succeeds, but on a pure entertainment level. Recommended

The Incredible Hulk (2008) - I give Ang Lee credit for trying something different with his greatly misunderstood 2003 Hulk remake - I give Marvel no such credit for this cliched, boring, uninspired, and completely unneccesary rehash. If you are going to make mindless, at the very least it should be fun. Avoid

Elegy (2008) - An aging cultural critic (Ben Kingsley) spends his time hitting on former students, but things change when he meets Consuela (Penélope Cruz) and possesiveness takes over. It’s a slow melancholic crawl from start to finish. Average

Role Models (2008) - If you are looking for a film along the lines of 'Superbad' or 'Knocked Up' then I suggest you move along. Paul Rudd does an OK job along with Seann William Scott, but this is not the sharpest script and the result is largely forgettable. Average

George Carlin... It's Bad for Ya! (2008) - Notable for robbing 'Flight of The Conchords' of an Emmy. I've had a certain level of appreciation for Calin's brand of politically incorrect humour over the years but at 70 this is perhaps his most cyncial and dark performance (even speaking in detail of his death which would come sooner than even he would have anticipated). So often his comedy and philosophy is dead on - but his style is to come off sounding cranky that's not the way to win hearts and minds. Average

Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis (Welcome to the Sticks) (2008) - Superb French farce about a post office manager in the south of France who gets transferred to the dreaded northern region. Some of the humour here is clearly difficult to convey via subtitles but the actions and reactions are unmistakeable. Went on to become the highest grossing film of all time at the French box office. Recommended

Gran Torino (2008) - Clint Eastwood has stated this will be the last film he acts in and I can't think of a more apt way to go out. His performance as Korean War vet Walt Kowalski is a testament to the integrity of his long career. Gran Torino is also an effective anti-racism film that maintains the drama throughout and my only criticism is around some of the supporting performances. Recommended

Frozen River (2008) - Grim drama about a struggling mother (Melissa Leo) who gets drawn into people smuggling on a Mohawk reservation between New York State and Quebec. Leo is outstanding and this is brilliant independent filmmaking which captures a slice of life with such detail and insight. Recommended

Doubt (2008) - My biggest fear about this slow moving 'dodgy priest' story was confirmed and there is indeed nothing you can't discover about this film that isn't revealed in the trailer. Meryl Streep's performance is uneven and not her best work. Amy Adams on the other hand is deserving of her Oscar nomination here. Great drama and mystery, but just not rewarding viewing. Average

Rachel Getting Married (2008) - Narrative drama about a family who gather for a wedding, and the sister of the bride (played by Anne Hathaway) who emerges from rehab and acts as a catalyst for dredging up the painful conflict of the past. Everything relies on Hathaway's performance to work, and she carries it off in this Oscar nominated performance. Recommended

Revolutionary Road (2008) - A beautifully crafted film (as you would expect from Sam Mendes) about a suburban couple in the mid-50s struggling to find happiness in their marriage and meaning in their lives. The Thomas Newman score really drags the pacing, and I'm a little tired of acting that involves simply yelling and throwing furniture. However, Michael Shannon's scene-stealing performance is a real redeemer. Average

Hamlet 2 (2008) - An example of a film I watched purely because I wanted it to be good. Steve Coogan plays a failed actor turned high school drama teacher who tried to resolve the problems in his life by producing a sequel to Hamlet. It's a forgettable, unfunny and uneven attempt at satire. Avoid

Marley and Me (2008) - I'm looking on all levels for what this story about a family dog was trying to convey, or even what whether there was a story being told at all. There is an appallingly superficial account of sacrifices that white middle class people make in their lives. If you want a heart wrenching tale told through the life of an animal you would do far better watching Robert Bresson's 'Au hasard Balthazar'. Avoid

Redbelt (2008) - Watching a David Mamet film is always an unnerving sensation. You never quite know where the contrived plot is heading, but hang in there anyway for the unravelling finale. This time the plot is centred on a Jiu-Jitsu instructor who refuses to fight despite facing financial troubles. It's strictly for the Mamet fans - most of the regular gang are back.  Average

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008) - The most complete look at the unlawful sexual connection case of Roman Polanski in the late 70s, and the scandalous court proceedings that followed. A must see for Polanski fans as many of the original 'players' provide insight. Nicely edited with some outstanding archival footage. Recommended

Valkyrie (2008) - Tom Cruise as Colonel von Stauffenberg in this historical thriller about the real life attempt to assassinate Hitler. This is definitely worth a watch, but despite a good level of intensity I don't feel it got the tone quite right - particularly after Der Untergang set the new benchmark. Recommended

American Teen (2008) - This might be the most realistic portrayal of contemporary High School life as a teenager in America (that wasn't filmed by Gus Van Sant). Billed as a documentary, but too contrived for this to be given credence - it follows the lives of a four individuals as they battle with the challenges of daily life. Average

Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - I can see that Danny Boyle really wanted to explore the human condition in this rags to riches fairy tale. It succeeds through pacing and because it shows us a world rarely seen in Western cinema. But this can only be seen as a fantasy film - the audience is asked to believe a lot of things that are never shown, and a lot of things that could never happen. The more you think about it, the more flawed it becomes. Recommended

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) - Non-stop fun from start to finish. A rare sequel that builds on and and improves on the original. It's a futile argument to suggest that Disney is competing with Pixar's WALL-E here - this is only meant to be a simplistic light comedy. Recommended

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) - Setting aside how beautifully crafted this film is, I just didn't care for the characters or their motivations. The idea of exploring the choices we make in life was the only redeeming element in the script for me.  Average

Religulous (2008) - As a regular viewer of Bill Maher's 'Real Time' I had some quite high expectations of the subject matter being explored and the style of delivery. But despite the occasional well provoked moments of footage, this doco has no teeth and more of a whimper than a bark.  Average

Quantum of Solace (2008) - We had every reason to go into this with Casino Royale level expectations. However, the clever lines and gadgets are no more - and have been replaced by far too many convoluted action sequences. The franchise certainly has its share of weak story-lines - but this whole Bolivian water supply thing is just juvenile. Average

JCVD (2008) - 'Fourth wall' breaking crime drama featuring down on his luck actor Jean-Claude Van Damme (as himself) getting involved in a hold-up in Brussels. Forget everything you know about Van Damme - this is a cleverly unfolding satire on the cult of celebrity. Recommended

Pineapple Express (2008) - Unfunny and formulaic slapstick comedy. The biggest disappointment here is Seth Rogen - it looked like he had somewhere more important to be the whole time. Avoid

Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008) - Unmemorable and unfunny. Conceptually this could have been the comedy of the year - the execution was far from it. Average

Burn after Reading (2008) - I'm not fan of either Clooney or Pitt, so it was with a great sense of relief that the latest Coen brothers black comedy seems like exactly what was needed to follow up No Country for Old Men. Recommended

Righteous Kill (2008) - I thought I went in with sufficiently low enough expectations. We all know the score with De Niro & Pacino these days. This is just another by-the-numbers crime drama. Avoid

Rain of the Children (2008) - A personal retelling from Vincent Ward on the plight of the Tuhoe tribe and in particular the extraordinary life of Puhi, whom Ward made a documentary of in the 1970's. The story is complex at times, but the mix of reenactments, original footage and recent interviews find a good balance. Recommended

The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) - It's generally unfair of me to criticize films in the martial arts genre as I basically don't know how to take them. Everything seems preposterous to me. But I do know sub par acting when I see it. And a story that is just set pieces linked by a simplistic plot. Average

The X Files: I Want to Believe (2008) - I wanted to believe this would be great. It was nice to revisit Scully and Mulder one more time, but after all these years this latest big screen offering seems to be let down primarily by a script that doesn't recall any of the original magic. Average

Tropic Thunder (2008) - Setting aside the ridiculous plot, this is politically incorrect satire at its best. Downey Jr is particularly good, but the one-liners and visual gags are smart and memorable. Worth a look just to see Tom Cruise in a comedic role. Recommended

Semi Pro (2008) - Another unfunny comedy delivered with Will Ferrell in lead. There is nothing in the script, it's just another tedious underdog story. Avoid

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008) - Pretty much exactly what you would expect if you saw these guys go to White Castle four years ago. The comedy is somewhat above average for the genre - it's a fun watch.  Average

In Bruges (2008) - Something entirely fresh in the British gangster genre. Colin Farrell in perhaps his best role. A witty script with dark comedic tones and cracking dialogue. I loved it.  Recommended

Recount (2008) - An all star cast of limp wristed liberals lined up to have an over dramatic whinge about how Al Gore lost the 2000 election. The made for TV quality makes this seem more like a self parody at times (an over serious Spacey doesn't help), but the true life story is compelling watching as this was a fascinating historic event.  Average

Smart People (2008) - You know a film is in trouble when it uses music so heavily that the film becomes indistinguishable from a trailer. Here is a film that covers old ground on the dysfunctional family theme - it's meant to be an intelligent comedy drama but just feels tired and dreary. Avoid

The Onion Movie (2008) - Fans of The Onion satire will find something to like here - but the truly great moments are few and far between. Originally filmed in 2003 and only recently released to DVD after being shelved due to poor test screening. Average

Get Smart (2008) - Oddly, this series adaptation felt the need to change genres from its origins as a spy comedy to action adventure. This is ultimately a wasted opportunity to play off the clever satire and one liners that made the TV series great. Avoid

The Dark Knight (2008) - Christopher Nolan follows up his franchise revival with a lengthy rollercoaster ride where the visual distractions make it worth your time, but the destination is somewhat unfulfilling. Strong performances as expected from Bale and Ledger. See it on IMAX. Recommended

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) - Fun but forgettable popcorn film - I guess I was expecting more true to life characters after all those great Apatow films recently. Mila Kunis was the only real highlight. Average

Hancock (2008) - Conceptually very good, but poor execution and a wayward storyline drag this modern superhero tale way down. Average

Be Kind Rewind (2008) - Michel Gondry makes must see cinema and with this film he has brought to screen a clever homage to the act of film making itself. While not everything works in this Jack Black lead comedy - it is creative in every sense.  Recommended

Sex and the City (2008) - Putting aside the shallow and vulgar nature of characters, the film itself is disjointed and plotless. I would like to give it the benefit of the doubt and assume it is a deliberate portrayal of the emptiness of materialism - but I don't know that this occurred to the writers. Average

Kung Fu Panda (2008) - Solidly entertaining animated martial arts comedy. The door is open for a far superior sequel - it's a franchise with plenty of potential. Recommended

21 (2008) - This film is a complete mess. Supposedly a fact-based story about six MIT students who got rich off card counting. A documentary would have been far more engaging than this contrived offering. Avoid

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) - Like its three predecessors - it's all just contrived nonsense, but the action pulls you along and this time around the FX and action sequences take a big step up. There is a lot packed in, but the real reason to watch is simply to see the saga continue. Recommended

Horton Hears a Who! (2008) - Captures the spirit and good humour of the Dr. Seuss book and one of the better films in the genre to come along in the past few years. Recommended

Iron Man (2008) - Robert Downey Jr. plays an unlikely action hero in a film that is a one of the better comic adaptations in recent years. You have to overlook a lot of unimaginative script diversions and formulaic stereotypes, but for the most part it is worth the ride. Recommended

The Hottie and the Nottie (2008) - I had to see this for myself, and as suspected this is the film that exposes the IMDb rating system to be a farce. Within the genres she operates, Paris Hilton is actually an above average actor. This is not as bad as the last couple of terrible comedies I have seen such as Shrek 3 or Blades of Glory. Average

Definitely, Maybe (2008) - A fluffy romantic comedy that is entirely watchable because it avoids many of the formulaic traps of the genre. However, the ending is surprising in that you expect a surprise, but the obvious still happens. Oh, and my general dislike of Rachel Weisz continues through this film. Average