Best and Worst of 2007 Movies / Movies in 2008

I came across this extensive list of all the upcoming movies for 2008, and it looks like it's going to be a better year in movies than 2007.

But as I made the list of movies that came out this year, I second-guessed that statement. There were some personal instant classics this year. I guess I'll have to wait and see if this next year can out-do movies like 300, Juno, Hot Fuzz and Grindhouse.

Movies I Liked This Year: (Ranked in order of how much I liked it)
1) Juno


2) 300


3) Knocked Up


4) Grindhouse


5) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix


6) Blades of Glory


7) The Number 23


8) Hot Fuzz


9) I Am Legend


10) The Bourne Ultimatum


BONUS: Across the Universe (A Must-See), Black Sheep, Transformers



(Ones I haven't seen, but know I'll like:) ( No order)
1) No Country For Old Men


2) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street- I saw it finally and liked it. I will probably never see it again because it was too-musical-y for me. But I did like it.


3) Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

4) The Golden Compass
5) Enchanted
6) Southland Tales
7) Lions for Lambs
8) The Kingdom- The hype was overrated. I liked it, but the big hype for it caused a slight disappointment for me when I saw it.
9) Hot Rod
10) Sicko


11) Fido
12) Once


Movies I Thought that were Ok: (Ranked in order of how much I liked them)
1) Ocean's Thirteen
2) Live Free Die Hard (Action-packed)
3) Hairspray (It's only ranked here b/c I would feel like less of a man if it was ranked with the
movies I liked)


4) License to Wed ( I secretly liked this one too)
5) The Simpson's Movie (Just a long Simpson's episode, but still very funny)


6) 1408 (Weird)
7) 30 Days of Night


8) National Treasure: Book of Secrets
9) I Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
10) Superbad (Raunchy)


Ones That I Disliked: (Ranked in order of stinkiness)
1) Spiderman 3
2) Ghost Rider
3) Alpha Dog
4) Norbit
5) Shrek 3
6) Shooter
7) Rush Hour 3
8) Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
9) Hostel and Saw Sequels (all of them)
10) Because I Said So

Movies I'm excited to see this New Year: (Ranked in order of anticipation)
1) Be Kind Rewind


2) Burn After Reading
3) The Box
4) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

5) Semi-Pro


6) Wall-E


7) Valkyrie
8) The Happening
9) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
10) The Fighter
11) The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
12) 21


13) The Incredible Hulk
14) Where the Wild Things Are


15) Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

Why 2008 Will Be An Awesome Year For Movies

I Am Legend

I saw "I Am Legend" this weekend, and I was impressed.

But not when I compared it to Richard Matheson's short story, the story it is based on. (Richard Matheson also wrote the book that the film "What Dreams May Come" is based off of)

"I Am Legend" is a story about loneliness. Will Smith, who normally has roles that deflate negativity and other antagonist emotions, shows he can make others feel his character's loneliness and depression. I thought the introduction of the movie was brilliant. During the Columbia Productions screen and the typically silent production studio screens, an audio clip of a news radio show plays. Then when the film starts, the news show comes into the screen right when the reason of the worldwide plague is seeded. It's a great attention grabber.

When I read books before movies (I try to as much as possible), I am often disappointed. And I am with this movie as well as almost every other one. Matheson's portrayal of Robert Neville, Will Smith's character, has twice the loneliness appeal and twice the intrigue that Francis Lawrence's Robert Neville has. The scenes where Robert Neville has to do anything and everything possible to hold himself back from stepping outside at night into the band of bloodthirsty vampires to satisfy his loneliness and desire to be with a woman, even if it is with a vampire woman, are amazing. The relationship Matheson's Neville has with a former co-worker turned vampire, Ben Cortman, is a wonderful look into the necessary separation between humanity and those infected with "the virus." And lastly, the part of Matheson's story I missed the most, was the girl that tricked Neville. The film lacked, what I thought, was an important part of the story. The vampires began to evolve and adapt. They developed a way to stand in the light. With this new asset, they went after Neville. They had a beautiful girl step into his life and slowly gather information. For someone that was almost willing to kill themselves for the touch of a woman, like Neville was, this plan was genius. But unfortunately for the vampires, the girl fell for Neville (the non-Will Smith Neville too!) and the plan never worked.

The end of the movie was better than the Matheson version. Matheson's version just ends without any resolve. The movie ends with a result of Neville's hard work and meticulous routine. I liked that.

This movie is an amazing film whether you read the book or not (I recommend you do read it). Will Smith's performance is great like always and this movie will not disappoint.

"I Am Legend" Article By Stephanie Zacharek

"I Am Legend" on IMDB