editor's note: I rank these in order of "favorite" to "least favorite." That doesn't always mean its the best movie, but...blah blah blah.

1. The Dark Knight

"The Dark Knight" is the best superhero movie of all-time, which instantly makes this one of my all-time favorite movies. This sits side by side with the original "Superman" movie on my all-time list. The acting, story, cinematography, directing, and score are all just top notch. I think there's been a mini-backlash against this movie because a lot of more serious filmgoers went into the movie thinking that it was going to be one thing when it never pretended to be anything more than a genre picture. "The Dark Knight" was nothing more than a really well made Batman picture. It's a comic book picture, not "The Godfather 2." And as a comic book movie, it's the best there's ever been.

2. No Country for Old Men

Saw this in early 2008 and loved it at the time. I've only grown more fond of it over time. Like the novel it comes from, its sparse and tense. Its amazing that the Coens/McCarthy needed so little dialogue to tell such an amazing story. And like the book, every line counts for something. The cinematography was top-notch, as were Javier Bardem, Woody Harrelson, Josh Brolin, and Tommy Lee Jones. It's also the best "modern" Western ever made.

3. Iron Man

I like this movie even more when paired with "The Dark Knight" this summer. Whereas the Dark Knight was a tasty filet mignon, "Iron Man" is a tasty hamburger joint. Sure it was intellectually filling, but this movie was just fun above all else.

4. There Will Be Blood

One of the most perfectly shot movies of all time. Every frame is a work of art. It's my second-favorite PTA movie after "Boogie Nights." Great stuff in here.

5. Forgetting Sarah Marshall

This was the biggest surprise of the year. This movie was really funny. And there wasn't some lame twist or hook. It was just a funny movie filled with funny people doing funny things.

6. Kung Fu Panda

This was also a huge surprise. I didn't know what to expect with this movie, but the folks at Dreamworks really stepped up to the plate with this one. I know "Wall-E's" getting all the accolades this year, but this was my favorite animated movie of the year. The action in it can rival any live action movie I've seen in years.

7. Quantum of Solace

I liked this movie a lot more the second time I saw it. I initially felt it came up short of its "Casino Royale" predecessor, but now feel its a worthy companion. This is a great James Bond movie.

8. Wall-E

Sometimes, being a frustrated storyteller can be a curse. There were a few things I think that they could have done to take this story to the next level. Oh well, that's a different post for a different day. This is (graphically) Pixar's best work. What does it say about Pixar that a movie like this, which I'd rate as a B+ or an A- is probably my least favorite Pixar movie? They really can do no wrong. And from what I've heard about their next one, "Up," prepare to be blown away again.

9. No End in Sight (dvd)

This really should be required viewing. With all the partisanship that takes place in many Iraq documentaries, it was nice to see a movie like this that took an even-handed approach. I liked that they just let the people who were there do the talking.

10. Tropic Thunder

This was the WTF movie of the year. I couldn't believe they got away with half the stuff they got away with. Wow...Robert Downey Jr. In less talented hands, this would have been painfully offensive and unfunny. Instead, it was just painfully offensive and painfully funny. I've seen it once but feel I need to see it again to catch all the jokes that fly both over and under the radar. This is a great comedy.

11. Frost/Nixon

Great performances and a good movie, but I do have some issues with this one. I'll hopefully write out a review later. But this movie is worth seeing if for nothing else than the acting performances, especially Frank Langella.

12. The Assasination of Jesse James (dvd)

I didn't really know what to expect with this one, but loved it nonetheless. Its a beautifully shot movie. It was a bit long for my tastes, and I think it took itself a little too seriously, but its worth a viewing.

13. W.

Was painfully fair, which is both a strength and flaw of the movie. Come on, Oliver. I want to see how 1995 Oliver Stone would have handled this movie. I think you could do a sequel to this movie which covers the post-Iraq stuff and have it be just as compelling. Good (sometimes great) performances by all.

14. Cloverfield

I don't understand the drubbing this film has gotten. I think its hilariously fun and truly frightening at times.

15. Funny Games

No movie got as much of a reaction from me this year as this movie. I mean, I was in full-on panic attack mode after this. I (seriously) had to call my Mom on the way home just so I could get this mind-fuck of a movie out of my brain. Wow. Just ... man, this movie is fucked up.

16. Juno (dvd)

I think this movie was both really funny and really overrated. Yeah, it's good, but the script was nothing more than an exercise is pop-culture dropping douchebaggery. But beyond all that, it was a sweet little movie. I liked it in spite of itself.

17. 3:10 to Yuma (dvd)

Was pretty good, I suppose. Was a little too boring for my tastes. And a lot of it was non-sensical. But worth a watch if you like Westerns.

18. Speed Racer

This would have been a lot more fun had I been intoxicated. It was pretty fun at times, but also felt like I was being bludgeoned with a beautifully colored lead pipe.

19. Be Kind, Rewind

Was interesting. And was clever at times. But a good movie, this was not.

20. Walk Hard

Hmmm...I should be ranking this higher, but I don't remember it well enough to place it above any of the above movies. I remember liking both the comedy and the music, but .... hmmm... Funny stuff if you're into movies like "Airplane!" and "The Naked Gun."

21. Indiana Jones

Worse than any of the prequels. Worse than "Howard the Duck." While I think "South Park" took it WAY too far, they were on the nose about many things regarding this movie. There were a couple of fun moments, but...yeah. Nuking the Fridge is about right.

22. Bee Movie (dvd)

Was good, but was also not much more than an excuse for Seinfeld to drop as many pop-culture references in the span of 2 hrs as possible.

23. Get Smart

Funny, but no funnier than anything you'd see on tv. Its a renter, as they say.

24. The Business of Being Born(dvd)

It's not really the world's most well-made documentary, but it did get its valuable point across. I wish that more expecting fathers and mothers would check this out. There are other ways of bringing a child into this world and hope that midwifery isn't a dying profession.

25. Atonement

As I said above, this isn't a list of "best" and "worst," because there is much to admire about this movie, that long tracking shot on the beach in particular. But I just could not get into this thing. I'll give it another shot down the road sometime...