Movies 2008: What I can reconstruct

I must have seen more than 15 movies in 2008, but this is all I wrote down, so this shall be the formal record.


The Incredible Hulk (2008)
This was ok. I can handle this.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
The dumb to cool ratio of this movie was way off. Also, Harrison Ford is old. Listen, Indy doesn't need to have a kid. Indy is always young and vital and committing improbable archaeology. I don't need stories about Indiana Jones in any other time period.

Raiders of the Lost Ark
This movie has been incorrectly renamed.

Hancock
What is this, the third time I've seen this? This movie doesn't bear repeated viewing.

Fearless (2006)
Maybe... maybe a little preachy? A little obvious? but so well done, I feel bad even bringing that up. Superb choreography and fight scenes, and a comeback for Jet Li who's made some gawdawful movies.

Charlie Wilson's War
It's interesting to watch how the filmmakers try to get you to root for a bastard. I didn't quite fall under the spell.... I blame the pacifistic and social justice imprint that the Mennonites are leaving on me.

Gone Baby Gone
Super movie. Loved it. Didn't believe that I would -- Where are the ray guns? The smart alec robots? -- but this movie was just fantastic.

Dickie Roberts Former Child Star
David Spade is funny, but that guy sure can be in some awful movies.

Casino Royale
I liked this ok, but this Bond is thuggish, not suave, which seems untrue to the character.

The Dark Knight
Lots to like here. Lots and lots. I particularly appreciated that nihilism was made compelling, but ultimately refuted. On playing the Joker: Jack Nicholson was great, but every time he was on screen, he was "Jack Nicholson as the Joker." Heath Ledger disappeared into his Joker. I was afraid and unnerved watching him.

Rome (HBO series)
We liked this pretty well, but WOW did this series move through history at an amazing clip. I was talking to M, dredging up my ancient Roman history from high school Latin class, saying things like, "Brutus turns on Caesar, but I thought that was much later. That should be, like..." and right then, on screen, Brutus is stabbing the guy.

also, though I really enjoyed the life and times of the centurion and his sidekick, their imposition into so many meaningful events felt forced. Cool to have the POV characters around at big moments, but it broke my suspension of disbelief when they were so present.

Minor complaint. Overall enjoyable, and good historical presentation.

Clash of the Titans
If you haven't seen this movie since you were a kid, don't go back now! Don't! Just remember the Harryhausen effects fondly and don't look back.

W.
Kind of a lightweight movie, one that didn't leave me with a sense that Oliver Stone was trying to make a point.

Lost (season 3)
M and I were yelling at the TV during the whole season, and we weren't yelling nice things. Everybody told us that this season of Lost picks up in the second half, but after 20-odd episodes, we were left wondering if there was some second half we had yet to see.

The Brothers Grimm
I always like what Terry Gilliam is trying to do more than I like what he actually pulls off in his movies. He seems to have more going on than he's explained to his audience, which doesn't feel tantalizing, it feels like someone made him edit out the explanation for time purposes, leading to a movie where it seems like characters explained their actions and demonstrated their motives just off-screen.