Before I get to my favorite movies of 2008, let me say this - This top 10 is about movies I enjoyed the most, not what the best movies are. Nobody ever agrees on what a better movie is so what is the point of posting the official BEST movies of the year - Instead... What did Phil have the most enjoyment from? There is plenty but here is the top ten.

Basically under each movie I've posted very brief comments about that film. You can consider them Extra Quick Thoughts - they aren't reviews.

What movies did you like this year? What is your personal top 10; I want to hear them and so does everyone else - post them in the comments below.

Take note: I haven't seen Benjamin Button, Changeling and several other films yet.

10 - The Wrestler

I saw The Wrestler very recently and without a doubt it's a great movie. It's kind of like Balboa for Wrestlers but a little more darker, actually a lot more darker - don't be mistaken... this isn't Rocky. The Wrestler is about Randy "The Ram" Robinson who was once a great popular wrestler in the 80s but now he's older, more broken down, and poor. What does a wrestler do?? Watch the movie to find out.

What I love about this movie is that the director Darren Aronofsky keeps the 80s alive. Remember watching wrestling back in the 80s and early 90s, how fun was it? That's when wrestling was wrestling and not sports entertainment. It's not all about wrestling though, it's about the struggle that the wrestler goes through; how does a washed up wrestling star live? In Randy's case, not very well but in the end he knows who he is and what he lives for.

Mickey Rourke is absolutely fantastic as The Ram and I don't doubt that an Oscar nomination will be heading his way.

9 - Slumdog Millionaire

When I first heard about Slumdog Millionaire I expected something ridiculous. How do you make a movie about Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? I figured it would be stupid but damn was I wrong. This is a great film with some clever story telling and amazing cinematography.

In India a young man named Jamal Malik is a contestant on Hindi version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?". After answering all questions right the contest breaks for one day before he answers the final question but when he leaves for the day he gets arrested. How can a boy from the Mumbai slums make it to the top of this game show? There we follow Jamal from when he was a young boy learning all the answers to Millionaire just from experience.

When it comes to the cinematography... it scares me. Take a look at the slums of India... people talk about American ghettos - they don't compare to India's and it makes me very happy that I don't live like that. It might be frightening but for filmmakers... amazing.

It has a great cast too - Dev Patel plays Jamal and granted I've never seen anything else he's done, this movie might put him on the map. The same goes for Freida Pinto who plays the lovely Latika.

8 - Frost/Nixon

I'm usually not a big fan of political biopics but with performances from Michael Sheen as David Frost and Frank Langella as Richard Nixon, it's totally worth the time of anyone. Although there is a lot of supporting characters this movie is really a two man show, just as the play is, with the interview Frost had with Nixon about Watergate.

The down side of this movie is that there isn't anything all that special with it. Ron Howard who directed the film really didn't wow me with anything direction wise but how did this end up in my top 10 you ask? Easy - because the one on one with both actors is very good especially towards the end when they talk about Watergate, also when both characters had a conversation on the phone but you'll need to see the movie for that.

7 - The Incredible Hulk

This movie deserves more credit from people because The Incredible Hulk is a really awesome movie and it's way better than the Ang Lee crap version. People still think this movie is the sequel to that when it's not... at all.

Ed Norton plays Bruce and The Hulk in the same movie world as Iron Man .... Avengers... awesome.

This movie is action packed with a story that I think is really solid - I really like this movie a lot and I hope that another will be made in a couple of years even though I know Marvel wants to concentrate on a Avengers film which is just a cool.

6 - Rambo

I know a lot of people laughed at the fact that Sylvester Stallone made another Rambo film but their laughs were really misplaced because Rambo is a fantastic movie for so many reasons. I'm not going to go through all of them because this isn't a review but for anyone that loves action movies, Rambo has it all. It's quite possibly the most violent movie that I've ever see so it might not be for everyone but if you can handle it... it's amazing.

It's especially amazing for Rambo fans because the character development means everything. Stallone moves away from the commercial action and story of Rambo's two and three, really bringing back the emotion of First Blood which is great considering it's 25 years later.

5 - Iron Man

Marvel's first ever movie that was produced by them... Iron Man, a huge success critically and financially.

Robert Downey Jr. blows audiences away at his excellent portrayal of Tony Stark and Iron Man. Thanks to director Jon Favreau, he sets a new example on how you can take a not so popular superhero and make it one of the biggest things for the year causing a working franchise.

Iron Man joins Chris Nolan's Batman in being a comic book film that can have an extremely solid story and tasteful action.

I'm excited for the sequel and the Avengers.

4 - Gran Torino

I love Clint Eastwood movies and considering he doesn't act that much anymore, Gran Torino was a movie that I anticipated ever since it was announced. Everyone thought it was another Dirty Harry sequel, it obviously wasn't, but Gran Torino is just as bad ass.

Clint Eastwood being Clint Eastwood is golden in Phil's world and will win every time. He brings back his brand in the familiar form we all know and turns Gran Torino one of the most enjoyable films this year.

3 - Wall-E

Pixar films is probably considered to be one of the finest studios in the business because their movies have never really failed, critically and financially.

I love almost every single Pixar film; I like them all but some I love - Wall E is one of those films I love. This movie is without a doubt one of the best movies all year, not on just my list but every ones. Besides the fact that I love science fiction, the overall story telling process from starting out as a silent film, essentially, was a unique experience especially for a movie that some would say is geared towards kids... although it's also for adults.

Wall E is one of the most endearing characters all year and watching him evolve was a splendid case of movie making.

2 - Let The Right One In

I'm not a fan of foreign films... I never have been but that may now change after seeing Let The Right One In. This is one of the most INCREDIBLE movies I've seen in years. This is the movie that all vampire movies wish they could be.

It's unfortunate that this movie won't get a lot of buzz considering it's a foreign film but when it comes out on DVD I'm going to make everyone I know see this because this movie deserves soo much more.

Vampire films are never taken seriously and for good reason - they are usually just a run of the mill horror or tween films but if your looking for a serious take on a love story between a 12 year old boy and a vampire stuck in a 12 year old girls body, Let The Right One In is totally for you. I wish I could go into it more but I know not everyone has seen this and I don't want to spoil it... This is one movie that needs to be seen.

If you have seen it, Email me and lets talk about it.

1 - The Dark Knight

Do I really need to explain why?

Lets review:

10 - The Wrestler
9 - Slumdog Millionaire
8 - Frost/Nixon
7 - The Incredible Hulk
6 - Rambo
5 - Iron Man
4 - Gran Torino
3 - Wall E
2 - Let The Right One In
1 - The Dark Knight

Honorable mentions and considerations:

(click name of film for trailer)

 Milk - Very good movie but I didn't like it as much as everyone else
 Valkyrie
 Quantum of Solace
 Tropic Thunder
 Cloverfield

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