Everybody's made a list - but all the lists are kinda the same!

So I decided to make my own brutally honest Top 10 list:

1. The Dark Knight

Okay, this is an obvious one - you know why it's up here and most likely agree with the ranking. Christopher Nolan created a perfect storm of superheroes, film noir, and post-9/11 politics. Heath Ledger's tragic death only added fuel to the fire and boy, did this movie burn right through the box office. All it needs is critical validation to join the ranks of The Godfather, Titanic, and Citizen Kane as one of the greatest movies of all time. Don't let us down, Academy!

2. Pineapple Express / Step Brothers

These movies are tied because while they mirror each other perfectly, it's in a way that complements rather than detracts. Will Ferrell and Seth Rogen are at the top of their game, highlighting the winning aspects of their comedy. Since Knocked Up, Seth Rogen has been working hard to redefine the term "slacker" and with Pineapple Express he makes his most compelling case. Pineapple Express transcends the typical pothead movie by throwing in shades of 48 Hours and Midnight Run, giving it a gritty edge while keeping Rogen's trademark teddy bear heart. In Step Brothers, Will Farrell perfectly captures the underlying sweet innocence of his comedy which has won over so many of fans. And hats off to John C. Reilly and James Franco, two serious actors who gave two professional comedians a run for their money. 

3. Speed Racer

Love it or hate it - you have to admit the Wachowski Brothers took risks when making this movie. Perhaps they did too good a job imitating Japanese anime styles as American audiences couldn't click with such a radical departure from typical Hollywood fare. But nevertheless it's filmmakers like the Wachowski Brothers who push movies in new directions. I saw Speed Racer on IMAX and it was an amazing visual experience. I can't vouch for how it looked on the regular screen, and maybe it never should have played there. Speed Racer is my number three because it's a work of art. If it's a work of entertainment is still up for debate. Hopefully the Wachowskis, or another filmmaker, will be able to harness this unique visual prowess and apply it to more solid storytelling.

4. Kung Fu Panda

Dreamworks knocked it out of the park with this film, and any movie I see two days in a row deserves to be on my Top 10 list. While Jack Black has been hit or miss at the box office, panda Po was the perfect avatar for his acerbic wit. A stellar voice cast all around, particularly Dustin Hoffman, blended seamlessly (and selflessly) with the animation to tell a really good story. And it had to be a good story to stand out from the tons of kung-fu flicks we've all seen so many times. Madagascar has its moments, but Kung Fu Panda is the one that has a shot at replacing Shrek as Dreamworks' best franchise.

5. Sex & The City

I am woman, hear me roar. Gone for so long from the box office landscape, women proved they were a demographic not to be ignored. Turning out in huge numbers for their favorite HBO show (and dressed up, no less!), women propelled Sex and The City to the highest opening gross ever for an R rated comedy, romantic comedy, and a film starring a woman. Mamma Mia soon followed and was also a huge success - no small feat as good film roles for women are an increasing rarity these days. Thanks to Carrie and company, women have a chance in Hollywood again.

6. Wall-E

This movie isn't higher up on my list because I felt the last third of the movie because more concerned with the "message" rather than the "story". But the first half of the movie is brilliant, starting with the opening frame as "Put on Your Sunday Clothes" plays eerily over an abandoned Earth. Pixar continues to challenge itself and a film with hardly any dialogue is certainly a challenge. But again, the message of the film overshadowed its heart so it doesn't quite capture the audience's heart. However, Wall-E gets a few extra points for the hysterical clever short film that played in front of it, Presto.

7. Iron Man

For a brief moment, Iron Man redefined the comic book movie. Then The Dark Knight came along. But Iron Man is still an important contribution to the genre for two reasons. First, it shows that comic book movies can appeal to adults yet still be lightheartedly entertaining. (Although all bets are off in the sequel as Tony Stark battles alcoholism.) Second, Marvel proved itself as a movie studio. Wonderfully faithful to the source material, Marvel was able to fend off Hollywood's meddling and truly bring their character to life on the big screen. If they can keep it up, they'll be as successful at the box office as they are at the comic book store.

8. Hamlet 2

If you've ever taken an acting class, you know this movie is frighteningly accurate. I chose Hamlet 2 for my list because it was one of the most original films I saw this year. Depicting a side of the arts rarely seen (or admitted to), Steve Coogan formally introduced himself to American audiences. It was an awkward meeting. But Coogan is a critical darling and he'll be back. As for Hamlet 2, ironically it shared the same fate as the play it was about: bold and daring, loved by the artistic elite, but seen by few.

9. W

Putting politics aside, this is a charismatic portrait of a man who couldn't measure up to his own dreams. If you have any ambitions yourself it's hard not to relate to Josh Brolin's "W". A tragic clown, George W. Bush struggled with his own legacy and a father who never really gave him a chance. Oliver Stone also did an excellent job with the film's narrative, creating a sharp and colorful film that reminds one of the crisp pages of Newsweek or Time. Stone's biopic is an unflinching yet sympathetic portrait of one America's most enigmatic and alluring historical figures that every citizen should see.

10. Mongol

This film has ONE flaw - it's part one of a trilogy and who knows when it will be finished. While it was released in Russia in 2007, where it was made, it was released in the United States in 2008. For just million dollars - and keep in mind Four Christmases cost million - Sergei Bodrov made a sweeping epic that stands shoulder to shoulder with some of the greatest historical films of all time. Little attention is paid to leaders of the far east and if anyone deserves to be immortalized in celluloid, it's Genghis Khan. Khan had the largest contiguous empire in history, yet Alexander The Great gets all the attention. And with all due respect to John Wayne, I think he was miscast as Khan in 1956's The Conqueror. In Mongol, Khan's story is brought to life by an international cast and all the dialogue is in actual mongolian. If you're a history buff, this is not to be missed.