2008 Ranked List
The ranked list of 2008 films that I have seen so far.
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- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleHeath LedgerAaron EckhartWhen the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.10/10
Working as both a crime epic and a superhero flick, The Dark Knight is an iconic piece of cinema and features one of the best villain portrayals of all time from a stellar Heath Ledger. - DirectorKathryn BigelowStarsJeremy RennerAnthony MackieBrian GeraghtyDuring the Iraq War, a Sergeant recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work.10/10
A visceral experience from start to finish, The Hurt Locker finds Kathryn Bigelow working from the height of her powers to shine a spotlight at a seldom seen but just as harrowing aspect of modern warfare. - DirectorDanny BoyleLoveleen TandanStarsDev PatelFreida PintoSaurabh ShuklaA teenager from the slums of Mumbai becomes a contestant on the show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati?' When interrogated under suspicion of cheating, he revisits his past, revealing how he had all the answers.10/10
Sharply edited, stunningly filmed and suffused with a profound energy, Slumdog Millionaire finds Danny Boyle in top form in delivering an eminently tense rags-to-riches story. - DirectorGus Van SantStarsSean PennJosh BrolinEmile HirschThe story of American gay activist Harvey Milk, who fought for gay rights and was elected as California's first openly gay official.10/10
With Sean Penn giving a career-defining performance as the title character, Milk shines a humanistic spotlight on a movement and a bold political figure alike. - DirectorAndrew StantonStarsBen BurttElissa KnightJeff GarlinIn the distant future, a small waste-collecting robot inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.10/10
Challenging the very conventions of animated features as a whole, WALL-E proves that effortlessly charming and thematically astute. - DirectorJon FavreauStarsRobert Downey Jr.Gwyneth PaltrowTerrence HowardAfter being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.10/10
Blasting the doors off the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man is one of the finest superhero origin movies and showcases a killer comeback turn from Robert Downey Jr. - DirectorDavid FincherStarsBrad PittCate BlanchettTilda SwintonTells the story of Benjamin Button, a man who starts aging backwards with consequences.9/10
More poignant than your typical David Fincher film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button nevertheless features a lifetime of strong Brad Pitt performances and a noteworthily peculiar story. - DirectorTomas AlfredsonStarsKåre HedebrantLina LeanderssonPer RagnarOskar, an overlooked and bullied boy, finds love and revenge through Eli, a beautiful but peculiar girl.9/10
Simultaneously grounding and reinvigorating the vampire mythos, Let the Right One In tells a stark yet hauntingly beautiful friendship tinged with darkness. - DirectorNicholas StollerStarsKristen BellJason SegelPaul RuddDevastated Peter takes a Hawaiian vacation in order to deal with the recent break-up with his TV star girlfriend, Sarah. Little does he know, Sarah's traveling to the same resort as her ex - and she's bringing along her new boyfriend.9/10
A fairly potent comedy but not without its sweet charms, Forgetting Sarah Marshall unites a diverse cast to deliver a multi-faceted film that hardly misses a beat. - DirectorMark OsborneJohn StevensonStarsJack BlackIan McShaneAngelina JolieTo everyone's surprise, including his own, Po, an overweight, clumsy panda, is chosen as protector of the Valley of Peace. His suitability will soon be tested as the valley's arch-enemy is on his way.9/10
With themes that will transcend any demographic of viewer, Kung Fu Panda is a superior DreamWorks offering that’s as moving as it is funny. - DirectorJohn Patrick ShanleyStarsMeryl StreepPhilip Seymour HoffmanAmy AdamsA Catholic school principal questions a priest's ambiguous relationship with a troubled young student.9/10
Doubt can't always shake its theatrical roots, but a powerhouse cast is more than able to get across its weighty food for thought. - DirectorMartin McDonaghStarsColin FarrellBrendan GleesonCiarán HindsAfter a job gone wrong, hitman Ray and his partner await orders from their ruthless boss in Bruges, Belgium, the last place in the world Ray wants to be.9/10
Its story structure might frustrate some viewers, but In Bruges still showcases Martin McDonagh’s penchant for irreverent characters and crisp dialogue. - DirectorBen StillerStarsBen StillerJack BlackRobert Downey Jr.Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying.9/10
Reaffirming Ben Stiller as a writer-director to be reckoned with, Tropic Thunder rides a bombastic gaggle of comedians on way to kicking plenty of ass to boot. - DirectorByron HowardChris WilliamsStarsJohn TravoltaMiley CyrusSusie EssmanThe canine star of a fictional sci-fi/action show that believes his powers are real embarks on a cross country trek to save his co-star from a threat he believes is just as real.8/10
A fresh take on the superhero paradigm, Bolt isn’t Disney’s highest profile film but it is one of their more personable. - DirectorDavid KoeppStarsRicky GervaisGreg KinnearTéa LeoniBertram Pincus is a man whose people skills leave much to be desired. When Pincus dies unexpectedly, but is miraculously revived after seven minutes, he wakes up to discover that he now has the annoying ability to see ghosts.8/10
Headlining a perfectly cast Ricky Gervais, Ghost Town has a simple concept but does character work so good it’s sophisticated. - DirectorDavid Gordon GreenStarsSeth RogenJames FrancoGary ColeA process server and his marijuana dealer wind up on the run from hitmen and a corrupt police officer after he witnesses his dealer's boss murder a competitor while trying to serve papers on him.8/10
Aware that stoner comedies are only as good as their leads, Pineapple Express has ideal foils in Seth Rogen and James Franco as it chuckles right along with the viewer. - DirectorJimmy HaywardSteve MartinoStarsJim CarreySteve CarellCarol BurnettHorton the Elephant struggles to protect a microscopic community from his neighbors who refuse to believe it exists.8/10
Bringing Dr. Seuss’ distinctive visionary style to life like no film before it, Horton Hears a Who! is as effervescent and thoughtful as it needs to be. - DirectorStephen DaldryStarsKate WinsletRalph FiennesBruno GanzPost-WWII Germany: Nearly a decade after his affair with an older woman came to a mysterious end, law student Michael Berg re-encounters his former lover as she defends herself in a war-crime trial.8/10
Its decade-spanning narrative arc keeps the film a bit uneven, but the magnitude of good work done, particularly from Kate Winslet, also keeps The Reader a thoroughly engaging and intellectually stimulating romantic drama. - DirectorWoody AllenStarsRebecca HallScarlett JohanssonJavier BardemTwo friends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.8/10
Though a bit slight down the stretch, Vicky Christina Barcelona flexes Woody Allen's innate penchant for well-rounded characters and crisp dialogue. - DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsAnne HathawayRosemarie DeWittDebra WingerA young woman who has been in and out of rehab for the past ten years returns home for the weekend for her sister's wedding.8/10
Benefitting greatly from its ground-level filmmaking style, Rachel Getting Married is a believable and sobering family drama with a pair of heavyweight performances from Anne Hathaway and Rosemarie DeWitt. - DirectorJohn CrowleyStarsAndrew GarfieldPeter MullanShaun EvansThe story of a young Jack, newly released from serving a prison sentence for a violent crime he committed as a child.8/10
Though perhaps somewhat contrived, Boy A is still a harrowingly well-acted movie with a strong feature debut from Andrew Garfield. - DirectorDavid WainStarsPaul RuddSeann William ScottElizabeth BanksWild behavior forces a pair of energy drink reps to enroll in a Big Brother program.8/10
Appropriately crass and sardonic, Role Models is the gold standard for the man-child movie thanks to the teaming of Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott. - DirectorClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodBee VangChristopher CarleyAfter a Hmong teenager tries to steal his prized 1972 Gran Torino, a disgruntled, prejudiced Korean War veteran seeks to redeem both the boy and himself.8/10
Gran Torino wears its cantankerous heart on its sleeve, but it's still a personable and authentic character study starring a perfectly cast Clint Eastwood. - DirectorTimur BekmambetovStarsAngelina JolieJames McAvoyMorgan FreemanA frustrated office worker discovers that he is the son of a professional assassin, and that he shares his father's superhuman killing abilities.8/10
It could be argued that Wanted is thoroughly style over substance, but director Timur Bekmambetov proves that still leaves plenty of room for possibility. - DirectorSam MendesStarsLeonardo DiCaprioKate WinsletChristopher FitzgeraldA young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children.8/10
The film as a whole doesn't always live up to its larger-than-life stars, but some predictably superb work from Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are more than enough to keep Revolutionary Road compelling. - DirectorCharlie KaufmanStarsPhilip Seymour HoffmanSamantha MortonMichelle WilliamsA theatre director struggles with his work, and the women in his life, as he creates a life-size replica of New York City inside a warehouse as part of his new play.8/10
Synecdoche, New York is perhaps a bit too self-indulgent in its surrealism, but a crackerjack screenplay from Charlie Kaufman is still able to proffer some profound themes. - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHarrison FordCate BlanchettShia LaBeoufIndiana Jones becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls.8/10
It’s questionable whether the title hero needed a comeback, but for what it’s worth Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is another high-flying adventure in its own right. - DirectorKevin SmithStarsSeth RogenElizabeth BanksCraig RobinsonLifelong platonic friends Zack and Miri look to solve their respective cash-flow problems by making an adult film together. As the cameras roll, however, the duo begin to sense that they may have more feelings for each other than they previously thought.8/10
A return-to-form for writer-director Kevin Smith, Zack and Miri Make a Porno is as gross-out a heartfelt as one would hope for, largely thanks to the fabulous chemistry between Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. - DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsRon PerlmanSelma BlairDoug JonesA prince of the mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth. Hellboy and his team must fight to stop him from locating the all-powerful Golden Army.8/10
More visually and narratively confident than its predecessor, Hellboy II: The Golden Army and Guillermo del Toro successfully bridges the fantasy and superhero genres together. - DirectorAdam McKayStarsWill FerrellJohn C. ReillyMary SteenburgenTwo aimless middle-aged losers still living at home are forced against their will to become roommates when their parents marry.7/10
One could argue that Step Brothers is less mature in the story department than the comedy department, but fearless teamwork from Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly keep it more hilarious than not. - DirectorEthan CoenJoel CoenStarsBrad PittFrances McDormandGeorge ClooneyA disk containing mysterious information from a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous and daft gym employees who attempt to sell it.7/10
Lacking the storytelling cohesion typical of Coen Brothers efforts, Burn After Reading is still at worst an peculiarly arresting black comedy that harnesses more than one unique performance. - DirectorWilson YipStarsDonnie YenSimon YamSiu-Wong FanDuring the Japanese invasion of China, a wealthy martial artist is forced to leave his home when his city is occupied. With little means of providing for themselves, Ip Man and the remaining members of the city must find a way to survive.7/10
Unchallenging yet compelling, Ip Man features a solid Donnie Yen in the title role and delivers a thoroughly reliable martial arts flick. - DirectorRyûhei KitamuraStarsVinnie JonesBradley CooperLeslie BibbA photographer's obsessive pursuit of dark subject matter leads him into the path of a serial killer who stalks late night commuters, ultimately butchering them in the most gruesome ways.7/10
One of the better films to come from the mind of Clive Barker, The Midnight Meat Train grinds up some chewy atmospheres and high tension. - DirectorRoger DonaldsonStarsJason StathamSaffron BurrowsStephen Campbell MooreMartine offers Terry a lead on a foolproof bank hit on London's Baker Street. She targets a roomful of safe deposit boxes worth millions in cash and jewelry along with a treasure trove of dirty secrets.7/10
Its fact-based story elevating it beyond the average heist flick, The Bank Job is an engaging, thrilling and thoroughly British outing for Jason Statham and company. - DirectorDavid FrankelStarsOwen WilsonJennifer AnistonEric DaneA family learns important life lessons from their adorable, but naughty and neurotic dog.7/10
Predictable but earnest, Marley & Me has its heart in the right place, and that should be enough to elicit a response from dog lovers everywhere. - DirectorGeorge A. RomeroStarsMichelle MorganJoshua CloseShawn RobertsA group of young film students run into real-life zombies while filming a horror movie of their own.7/10
Diary of the Dead finds George Romero able to keep his zombie anthology alive with surprisingly good use of the found-footage angle. - DirectorPeter SollettStarsMichael CeraKat DenningsAaron YooTwo newly acquainted music-lovers spend the night scouting the streets of New York City in search of their favourite band's surprise secret show. All the while, they're both being chased after by their tempting but devious exes.7/10
Not as comedically inclined as one would hope, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist nevertheless has a keen hold on its characterizations, more than able to depict the kind of teen angst in promises. - DirectorLouis LeterrierStarsEdward NortonLiv TylerTim RothBruce Banner, a scientist on the run from the U.S. Government, must find a cure for the monster he turns into whenever he loses his temper.7/10
While not completely matching the mold of its larger universe, The Incredible Hulk has the appropriate levels of gravitas befitting the classic character. - DirectorBryan SingerStarsTom CruiseBill NighyCarice van HoutenA dramatization of the July 20, 1944 assassination and political coup plot by desperate renegade German Army officers against Adolf Hitler during World War II.7/10
The casting of Tom Cruise can be distracting at times, but fortunately Valkyrie is the right levels of tense and informative. - DirectorMitchell LichtensteinStarsJess WeixlerJohn HensleyJosh PaisStill a stranger to her own body, a high school student discovers she has a physical advantage when she becomes the object of male violence.7/10
Perfectly fine for light viewing, Teeth relies on a capable cast to provide humor and dread alike with some narrative bite to boot. - DirectorClint EastwoodStarsAngelina JolieColm FeoreAmy RyanAfter Christine's son goes missing, she reaches out to the LAPD to find him. But when they try to pass off an impostor as her son to quieten public protests, she refuses to accept him or give up hope.7/10
An unwieldy screenplay prevents Changeling from reaching its full potential, however an absolutely gripping performance from Angelina Jolie is enough to make its story nothing short of heart-wrending. - DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsCate BlanchettMatt DamonLiam NeesonA five-year-old boy develops a relationship with Ponyo, a young goldfish princess who longs to become a human after falling in love with him.7/10
This particular Studio Ghibli offering doesn’t flow quite as well as their other offerings, but Ponyo is plenty spiritual and vivid enough to get the job done regardless. - DirectorAdam BrooksStarsRyan ReynoldsRachel WeiszAbigail BreslinA political consultant tries to explain his impending divorce and past relationships to his 11-year-old daughter.7/10
The gimmick to Definitely, Maybe is kitschy more than anything else, and yet its extended love story can't help but charm throughout. - DirectorMarc ForsterStarsDaniel CraigOlga KurylenkoMathieu AmalricJames Bond descends into mystery as he tries to stop a mysterious organisation from eliminating a country's most valuable resource.7/10
By relying on Daniel Craig and its gritty foundation, Quantum of Solace remains a well-made spy thriller, even if it lives in the shadow of its far superior predecessor. - DirectorMartin KoolhovenStarsMartijn LakemeierJamie Campbell BowerYorick van WageningenIn German-occupied Netherlands, a teenage boy gets involved in the Dutch resistance after coming to the aid of a wounded RAF pilot.7/10
The plot and thematics behind Winter in Wartime have been done before, however the film displays the kind of sociopolitical awareness and tact to warrant a recommendation. - DirectorEric BrevigStarsBrendan FraserJosh HutchersonAníta BriemOn a quest to find out what happened to his missing brother, a scientist, his nephew and their mountain guide discover a fantastic and dangerous lost world in the center of the earth.7/10
A bit silly and overly reliant on 3D gags, Journey to the Center of the Earth is still visually resplendent enough to do justice to Jules Verne’s classic literature. - DirectorPeter SegalStarsSteve CarellAnne HathawayAlan ArkinMaxwell Smart, a highly intellectual but bumbling spy working for the CONTROL agency, is tasked with preventing a terrorist attack from rival spy agency KAOS.7/10
Get Smart can’t always find the balance between action and comedy, but a likable cast should be enough to win over most audiences. - DirectorJon HurwitzHayden SchlossbergStarsJohn ChoKal PennNeil Patrick HarrisAfter being mistaken for terrorists and thrown into Guantánamo Bay, stoners Harold and Kumar escape and return to the U.S., where they proceed to flee across the country with federal agents in hot pursuit.6/10
There’s some diminishing returns involved in Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, but some timely geopolitical commentary keeps it more or less focused. - DirectorPierre MorelStarsLiam NeesonMaggie GraceFamke JanssenA retired CIA agent travels across Europe and relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter, who has been kidnapped while on a trip to Paris.6/10
Repurposing Liam Neeson into the vengeful action star he was born to be, Taken is hardly nuanced or believable but it is more than entertaining. - DirectorJon PollStarsAnton YelchinRobert Downey Jr.Hope DavisA rich kid becomes the self-appointed psychiatrist to the student body of his new high school.6/10
Charlie Bartlett isn’t as sharp as it should be, but a thoroughly charming cast, particularly a star-making turn from Anton Yelchin, make it a teen movie worth checking out. - DirectorCourtney HuntStarsMelissa LeoMisty UphamCharlie McDermottA mom looks for another source of income, when her husband leaves with the money meant for the new mobile home. A nearby Indian territory stretches across the border to Canada with a drivable frozen river between. Smuggling?6/10
Understatedly real, Frozen River gets along on a committed Melissa Leo, even if its low-budget approach deducts from its overall gravitas. - DirectorMichael McCullersStarsTina FeyAmy PoehlerSigourney WeaverA successful, single businesswoman who dreams of having a baby discovers she is infertile and hires a working class woman to be her unlikely surrogate.6/10
Baby Mama isn’t totally developed, but the perfect pairing of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler gives birth to a surprisingly funny comedy. - DirectorGary FlederStarsRob BrownDennis QuaidClancy BrownA drama based on the life of college football hero Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.6/10
The Express plays it perhaps too safe by keeping the story grounded, but gradually it reaches its destination by relying on the virtues of its subject and respectable cast. - DirectorEric DarnellTom McGrathStarsBen StillerChris RockDavid SchwimmerThe Madagascar animals fly back to New York City, but crash-land on an African nature reserve in Kenya, where they meet others of their own kind, and Alex especially discovers his royal heritage as prince of a lion pride.6/10
While still nothing to write home about, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is a respectable step up due to a more confident story and greater understanding of its characters. - DirectorSaul DibbStarsKeira KnightleyRalph FiennesDominic CooperA chronicle of the life of 18th-century aristocrat Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, who was revered for her extravagant political and personal life.6/10
With a winning performance from Keira Knightley anchoring the proceedings, The Duchess manages to meet the standards for a suitably fine corset drama, though it may lack the gravitas to support its thematic heft. - DirectorAndrew FlemingStarsSteve CooganElisabeth ShueCatherine KeenerIn this irreverent comedy, a failed actor-turned-worse-high-school-drama-teacher rallies his Tucson, AZ students as he conceives and stages politically incorrect musical sequel to Shakespeare's Hamlet.6/10
Don’t let the title fool you; Hamlet 2 is a risqué, often subversive comedy that compensates for an unfocused screenplay. - DirectorAndrew AdamsonStarsBen BarnesSkandar KeynesGeorgie HenleyThe Pevensie siblings return to Narnia, where they are enlisted to once again help ward off an evil king and restore the rightful heir to the land's throne, Prince Caspian.6/10
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian isn’t as enchanting as the first installment, but fantasy buffs should still get a kick out of its competent production design and setpieces. - DirectorRobert B. WeideStarsSimon PeggKirsten DunstMegan FoxA British writer struggles to fit in at a high-profile magazine in New York City.6/10
Perhaps appropriately, How to Lose Friends & Alienate People has more unlikable characters than it can handle, but its general cynicism for all things involved is funny more often than not. - DirectorSean AndersStarsJosh ZuckermanClark DukeAmanda CrewA high-school senior drives cross-country with his best friends to hook up with a babe he met online.6/10
Predictable and taking cues from multiple road trip comedies, Sex Drive is just self-aware enough to to get viewers laughing with it as well as at it. - DirectorRob MinkoffStarsJackie ChanJet LiMichael AngaranoA discovery made by a kung fu obsessed American teen sends him on an adventure to ancient China, where he joins up with a band of martial arts warriors in order to free the imprisoned Monkey King.6/10
The Forbidden Kingdom lacks the mysticism it promises, but the iconic pairing of Jackie Chan and Jet Li makes sure the martial artistry does not disappoint. - DirectorPeyton ReedStarsJim CarreyZooey DeschanelBradley CooperA man challenges himself to say "yes" to everything.6/10
Sometimes restrained by the rules of its premise, Yes Man still has a committed Jim Carrey showing going for it to get audiences to say yes too. - DirectorOliver StoneStarsJosh BrolinElizabeth BanksIoan GruffuddA chronicle of the life and Presidency of George W. Bush.6/10
W. never decides if it wants to lampoon or lionize its political figure, but a solid Josh Brolin impersonation is enough to ensure either enterprise. - DirectorSteven BrillStarsOwen WilsonJosh PeckAlex FrostThree kids hire a low-budget bodyguard to protect them from the playground bully.6/10
It’s silly in concept and execution alike, yet Drillbit Taylor largely gets by on a likable young cast and Owen Wilson alike. - DirectorMatt ReevesStarsMike VogelJessica LucasLizzy CaplanA group of friends venture deep into the streets of New York on a rescue mission during a rampaging monster attack.5/10
Cloverfield has more than one exciting sequence thanks to good use of the found-footage element, however it can’t help but feel narratively underwhelming in the grand scheme of things. - DirectorMichel GondryStarsJack BlackYasiin BeyDanny GloverTwo bumbling store clerks inadvertently erase the footage from all of the tapes in their video rental store. In order to keep the business running, they re-shoot every film in the store with their own camera, with a budget of zero dollars.5/10
Featuring a likable cast but never quite as funny as the movies it recreates, Be Kind Rewind should have gone direct to video. - DirectorMichael HanekeStarsNaomi WattsTim RothMichael PittTwo psychopathic young men take a family hostage in their cabin.5/10
Intriguing in its portrayal of casual violence and narrative subversion, Funny Games is ultimately undone by Michael Haneke's deliberately matter-of-fact direction. - DirectorEdward ZwickStarsDaniel CraigLiev SchreiberJamie BellJewish brothers in German-occupied Eastern Europe escape into a Belorussian forest, where they join Russian resistance fighters, and endeavor to build a village, in order to protect themselves and about one thousand Jewish non-combatants.5/10
Defiance is competently made and aims to valorize a fascinating subset of wartime survival, however much of its emotional impact falls moot. - DirectorSanaa HamriStarsAmerica FerreraAlexis BledelAmber TamblynFour college freshmen and best friends find that it may take more than a shared pair of jeans to help them stay in touch as their lives go in different directions.5/10
Unnecessary but somewhat welcome, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 still can't help but feel that much more worn. - DirectorPeter BergStarsWill SmithCharlize TheronJason BatemanHancock is a superhero whose ill-considered behavior regularly causes damage in the millions. He changes when the person he saves helps him improve his public image.5/10
Will Smith feels right at home in the title role, however some jarring, third-act mythologizing makes Hancock feel like two different films. - DirectorBryan BertinoStarsScott SpeedmanLiv TylerGemma WardA young couple staying in an isolated vacation home are terrorized by three unknown assailants.5/10
The Strangers has plenty of real, chill-inducing imagery, but they’re wasted on an overall story that can’t accommodate them. - DirectorDavid BrucknerDan BushJacob GentryStarsAnessa RamseyJustin WelbornScott PoythressA horror film told in three parts, from three perspectives, in which a mysterious transmission that turns people into killers invades every cell phone, radio, and television.5/10
It overcomes a minuscule budget with creative filmmaking techniques, however The Signal is tonally inconsistent with repetitive horror beats. - DirectorTyler PerryStarsKathy BatesAlfre WoodardSanaa LathanTwo families from different walks of life learn to work together.4/10
A talented cast ultimately elevates the material, however Tyler Perry's propensity for melodrama keeps The Family That Preys from having a prayer to exceed mediocrity. - DirectorChris CarterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonBilly ConnollyMulder and Scully are called back to duty by the FBI when a former priest claims to be receiving psychic visions pertaining to a kidnapped agent.4/10
Though it may satisfy fans of the series, The X-Files: I Want to Believe is highly derivative of not only better thrillers, but itself. - DirectorJonathan LevineStarsAmber HeardAnson MountWhitney AbleA group of high-schoolers invite Mandy Lane, an innocent, desirable girl, to a weekend party on a secluded ranch. While the festivities rage on, the number of revelers begins to drop mysteriously.4/10
It has a killer twist, but even that’s not enough to make up for the lack of suspense for the bulk of All the Boys Love Mandy Lane. - DirectorBarry LevinsonStarsRobert De NiroJohn TurturroStanley TucciTwo weeks in the life of a fading Hollywood producer who's having a rough time trying to get his new picture made.4/10
Even if What Just Happened realistically depicts the inner workings of the film industry, its sardonic tone waters down any shrewd satire beyond the point of consumption. - DirectorGabriele MuccinoStarsWill SmithRosario DawsonWoody HarrelsonA man with a fateful secret embarks on an extraordinary journey of redemption by forever changing the lives of seven strangers.4/10
Earnest to a fault but just as saccharine, Seven Pounds manipulatively tugs at the heartstrings but has less than weighty themes to show for it. - DirectorFred WolfStarsAnna FarisColin HanksEmma StoneAfter Playboy bunny Shelley is kicked out of the Playboy Mansion, she finds a job as the house mother for a sorority full of socially awkward girls.4/10
Anna Faris is able to elevate this otherwise conventional teen comedy, but The House Bunny hardly takes its inspired premise anywhere it ought to go. - DirectorNoam MurroStarsDennis QuaidThomas Haden ChurchSarah Jessica ParkerInto the life of a widowed professor comes a new love and an unexpected visit from his adopted brother.4/10
For something called Smart People, the film is rather dull, largely bitter and with nothing to say. - DirectorPhyllida LloydStarsMeryl StreepPierce BrosnanAmanda SeyfriedThe story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs by the popular 1970s group ABBA.4/10
Though purposely silly and extremely melodramatic, Mamma Mia! quickly wears its luster as it strains to wring every bit of musicality out of its mismatched stars. - DirectorAnne FletcherStarsKatherine HeiglJames MarsdenMalin AkermanAfter serving as a bridesmaid 27 times, a young woman wrestles with the idea of standing by her sister's side as her sibling marries the man she's secretly in love with.4/10
More of a bridesmaid than a bride, 27 Dresses while inoffensive remains highly derivative and predictable to a fault. - DirectorSylvester StalloneStarsSylvester StalloneJulie BenzMatthew MarsdenIn Thailand, John Rambo joins a group of mercenaries to venture into war-torn Burma, and rescue a group of Christian aid workers who were kidnapped by the ruthless local infantry unit.4/10
The simply titled Rambo has more kick than ever, however its over-the-top gore often downplays the humanistic element at its core. - DirectorOlivier MegatonStarsJason StathamRobert KnepperNatalya RudakovaFrank Martin is forced to deliver Valentina, the kidnapped daughter of a Ukrainian government official, from Marseilles to Odessa on the Black Sea. En route, he has to contend with thugs who want to intercept Valentina's safe delivery.4/10
At this point the franchise knows its target audience, but even action junkies could do better than Transporter 3. - DirectorKent AltermanStarsWill FerrellWoody HarrelsonAndré 3000Jackie Moon, the owner-coach-player of the American Basketball Association's Flint Michigan Tropics, rallies his teammates to make their NBA dreams come true.4/10
Dropping the ball as a Will Ferrell sports comedy, Semi-Pro is a half-assed effort to keep the laughs rolling in. - DirectorDiane EnglishStarsMeg RyanEva MendesAnnette BeningA wealthy New Yorker wrestles with the decision to leave her cheating husband, as she and her friends discover that women really can have it all.4/10
The Women tries to provide its cast with a script that justifies itself as a remake, it ultimately succumbs to uncompelling plot threads and witless caricatures. - DirectorD.J. CarusoStarsShia LaBeoufMichelle MonaghanRosario DawsonJerry and Rachel are two strangers thrown together by a mysterious phone call from a woman they have never met. Threatening their lives and family, she pushes Jerry and Rachel into a series of increasingly dangerous situations, using the technology of everyday life to track and control their every move.3/10
Its themes of privacy could be construed as timely, but Eagle Eye botches them on inconceivable action sequences and unfocused filmmaking. - DirectorAdam ShankmanStarsAdam SandlerKeri RussellCourteney CoxA hotel handyman's life changes when the lavish bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to magically come true.3/10
While more imaginative than most Adam Sandler films, Bedtime Stories proves too cliche and predictable to write a new chapter in his career. - DirectorRobert LuketicStarsJim SturgessKate BosworthKevin SpaceyInspired by real events and people, 21 is about six MIT students who become trained to be experts in card counting in Black Jack and subsequently took Vegas casinos for millions in winnings.3/10
Sleek and with the potential to be truly captivating, 21 unfortunately busts on a reach that far exceeds its grasp. - DirectorMark PellingtonStarsLuke WilsonRadha MitchellGeorge LopezHenry Poole moves in to a house in his old neighborhood, to spend what he believes are his remaining days alone. The discovery of a miracle by a nosy neighbor ruptures his solitude and restores his faith in life.3/10
Henry Poole Is Here is well-intentioned and has an intriguing premise, but it isn't exactly subtle in delivering some of its heavy-handed themes. - DirectorTyler PerryStarsTamela J. MannAngela BassettTyler PerryA single mom takes her family to Georgia for the funeral of her father--a man she never met--and she and her clan meet the crass, fun-loving Brown family.3/10
While not as cloying as other Tyler Perry offerings, Meet the Browns nevertheless has trouble being consistent either comedically or dramatically. - DirectorDennis DuganStarsAdam SandlerJohn TurturroEmmanuelle ChriquiAn Israeli Special Forces Soldier fakes his death so he can re-emerge in New York City as a hair stylist.3/10
Featuring one of Adam Sandler’s more offensive caricatures, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan is unwieldy and self-indulgent, far less funny than it thinks. - DirectorPaul W.S. AndersonStarsJason StathamJoan AllenTyrese GibsonEx-con Jensen Ames is forced by the warden of a notorious prison to compete in our post-industrial world's most popular sport: a car race in which inmates must brutalize and kill one another on the road to victory.3/10
Taking a clever speculative concept and stripping it for parts, the remade Death Race trades sociopolitical commentary for bland, colorless action. - DirectorKenny OrtegaStarsZac EfronVanessa HudgensAshley TisdaleAs seniors in high school, Troy and Gabriella struggle with the idea of being separated from one another as college approaches. Along with the rest of the Wildcats, they stage a spring musical to address their experiences, hopes and fears about their future.3/10
Unworthy of its graduation to the big screen, High School Musical 3: Senior Year still has all the production value of a Disney Channel Original Movie. - DirectorIain SoftleyStarsBrendan FraserAndy SerkisEliza BennettA teenage girl discovers her father has an amazing talent to bring characters out of their books and must try to stop a freed villain from destroying them all, with the help of her father, her aunt, and a storybook's hero.3/10
Unable to make its own fantasy jump off the page, Inkheart is struck by a plague of uninspired visuals and trite storytelling. - DirectorMichael Patrick KingStarsSarah Jessica ParkerKim CattrallCynthia NixonA New York City writer on sex and love is finally getting married to her Mr. Big. But her three best girlfriends must console her after one of them inadvertently leads Mr. Big to jilt her.3/10
Dumbing down the series’ charm to little more than a vapid chick flick, Sex and the City is a prime example of how not to do a TV adaptation. - DirectorScott DerricksonStarsKeanu ReevesJennifer ConnellyKathy BatesA remake of the 1951 classic science fiction film about an alien visitor and his giant robot counterpart who visit Earth.3/10
Dull, dull and dull, The Day the Earth Stood Still feigns an intellectual, sleek exterior but will make audiences asleep in their seats before long. - DirectorCatherine HardwickeStarsKristen StewartRobert PattinsonBilly BurkeWhen Bella Swan moves to a small town in the Pacific Northwest, she falls in love with Edward Cullen, a mysterious classmate who reveals himself to be a 108-year-old vampire.3/10
Mistaking sullenness with deepness, Twilight is about as inert as vampire flicks come, rife with unlikable characters and flat presentation. - DirectorTom VaughanStarsCameron DiazAshton KutcherRob CorddryA man and a woman are compelled, for legal reasons, to live life as a couple for a limited period of time. At stake is a large amount of money.2/10
Indisputable proof that two recognizable stars are not what a good romcom make, What Happens in Vegas really should have stayed in Vegas. - DirectorRob CohenStarsBrendan FraserJet LiMaria BelloIn the Far East, Alex O'Connell, the son of famed mummy fighters Rick and Evy O'Connell, unearths the mummy of the first Emperor of Qin -- a shape-shifting entity cursed by a witch centuries ago.2/10
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor attempts to resurrect the franchise with bloated CGI but fails rather succinctly with a lack of inspiration and charm. - DirectorPete TravisStarsDennis QuaidForest WhitakerMatthew FoxThe attempted assassination of the American President is told and re-told from several different perspectives.2/10
Though perhaps respectable in its production, Vantage Point's rewind gimmick grows tiresome the more it goes on, with little narrative finesse to support it. - DirectorJon M. ChuStarsRobert HoffmanBriana EviganCassie VenturaRomantic sparks occur between two dance students from different backgrounds at the Maryland School of the Arts.2/10
Neither a step up or down for the franchise, Step Up 2: The Streets is flashy but hits too many familiar beats to be anything more than predictable.