BEST OF 2008 - MOVIES: Big-screen comic books bring top films to life

'Iron Man,' starring Robert Downey Jr., won by the slimmest of margins over The Dark Knight mainly because it boasts an overall better story.

Comic books and graphic novels have been with us for decades, but over the last few years they've become perhaps contemporary cinema's most reliable creative force.

The most intriguing question regarding next year's Academy Awards will be the treatment given to The Dark Knight and Iron Man.

Will the late Heath Ledger's alternately bizarre and psychotic turn as the Joker earn him a Best Supporting nomination? Likewise, Robert Downey Jr.'s go as the tortured inventor-turned-superhero vaulted him from Hollywood obscurity to superstardom.

Most importantly, will either movie earn a Best Picture nomination?

Whatever happens, there was no question about the genre's commercial potency. As a result, look for more costumed crime fighters from the Marvel and DC ranks in the months to come. There's even talk about someone taking another stab at reviving the Superman franchise, and the pipeline's buzzing about long-delayed projects finally seeing the light of day (The Avengers? Thor?).

Here's our annual list of big screen favorites. And, this year we added a new wrinkle: 10 films we liked least among the many we saw both in the theaters and released on DVD.

Favorites

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: An understated, old fashioned Hollywood epic in one sense, but also quite contemporary and vital in another.

Here’s a story that makes numerous vital points, but never fails to entertain even as it inspires and stimulates.

2. Iron Man

I picked this by the slimmest of margins over The Dark Knight mainly because it boasts an overall better story.

In addition, Downey did a remarkable job of depicting Marvel's most conflicted figure after Spider-Man.

3. The Dark Knight

But what's said above notwithstanding, no single performance had more people buzzing as they exited the theaters than Ledger's. He convinced audiences that the Joker really wasn't that different from Batman, something you always knew from the comic books, but never saw in previous film treatments.

4. Milk

Besides Sean Penn's majestic performance, the film took a controversial topic (gay rights) and humanized it through one man's experience.

It probably won't persuade those whose reservations and/or objections are based in religious conviction, but it relied on a personal rather than political approach in its presentation and advocacy.

5. Doubt

The confrontation between Meryl Streep's devout, earnest nun and Philip Seymour Hoffman's seemingly above reproach priest poses tough questions regarding faith, conviction and justice.

It smartly doesn't ever fully answer them.

By not completely resolving all its issues, Doubt forces viewers to confront them and provide their own answers.

6. Wall-E

Any film that can be captivating despite lengthy stretches without dialog or human characters merits high praise.

Its message about the perils of obesity, ignoring the environment and not exercising certainly come across, but there's also a charming subplot about the real nature of attraction, friendship and even love.

7. Shine a Light

Martin Scorsese finally got his Rolling Stones documentary made and released. While it didn't show anything new, it did a great job of highlighting the familiar and celebrating the traditional.

From Mick Jagger's cavorting and strutting to Keith Richards' instrumental asides and the grand entrances of stars old (Buddy Guy) and relatively new (Jack White), this film showed why the Stones not only survive, but thrive.

8. Tropic Thunder

Irreverent, offensive and clever, Ben Stiller's send up of Hollywood narcissism and neurosis was so on target it even allowed Robert Downey Jr. to smoothly navigate the racial stereotype tightrope.

The flick also featured Tom Cruise in a scene-stealing role that proved he can still be effective in the right setting, awhile revealing a directing savvy on Stiller's part that was surprising and rewarding.

9. The Bank Job

Here was a gritty and occasionally funny caper effort that wisely didn't aim for anything beyond light entertainment and fast-paced action. You don't go to a Shakespeare festival for slapstick and you don't go to a Jason Statham film expecting transformative acting and sophisticated plotting.

10. Miracle at St. Anna

It was overly long and explored too many issues within one film, but Spike Lee's homage to black World War II soldiers wasn't nearly as bad as some claimed.

Unfortunately, when you nuke as many Hollywood bridges as Lee has, the fallout will be extensive.

Disappointments

1. Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

When people around you are falling asleep during sequences when they're supposed to be frightened, that's all you need to know.

2. Hancock

There aren't many people around who are bigger Will Smith fans than me, but the lurching thematic switch this made midway through ruined what might otherwise have been a good superhero film.

3. Jumper

I'm not sure what this was supposed to be, but I do know it was both dumb and dull as dishwater.

4. Speed Racer

The sets were stunning. But the Wachowski brothers evidently forgot that a good film also needs effective dialog, a distinctive story and actors who look like they're actually interested rather than participating in pre-casting script readings.

5. Death Race

They took a fine "B" movie in its original incarnation and turned it into something that would be unwatchable if it was shown on Spike TV at 4 a.m.

6. Lakeview Terrace

The concept of racial tensions being played out in a different manner (a black man resenting a white male/black female couple) is a provocative one.

Unfortunately this quickly degenerated into clichés and soap opera.

7. Semi-Pro

Will Ferrell has never been a personal favorite, but at times (Elf) he's been as funny as his legions claim.

This wasn't one of those occasions, and anyone who saw the original ABA with Dr. J and the Iceman in their prime was more dismayed than amused.

8. Righteous Kill

The prospect of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino on screen together for an entire film seemed like a can’t-miss proposition. This one did.

9. Valkyrie

It's a tough task trying to make a film about the 15th attempted assassination of Hitler remotely captivating, or at least appealing. The best thing that can be said is some good actors gave it their best shot, but failed.

10. Meet the Browns

Not even Angela Bassett could salvage arguably Tyler Perry's worst film.

Perry's emergence as a genuine force in Hollywood is a wonderful development, but even his most ardent fan would have a hard time defending this movie's thin premise and forgettable acting.