Best of 2008 [Archive]

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GlassAdam

01-05-2009, 05:31 AM

Here we list our personal favorites of each type of media for the past year (2008). The rule is only ONE (1) answer per category, no ties. There are four categories: movies, music (album OR song), books (comic books are accepted), and games. It doesn't actually have to be from 2008, it just merely has to be the best you encountered for the first time during the year 2008. So, for example, I could say that the best movie I saw in 2008 was The Matrix, but only if I had never seen The Matrix prior to 2008.

Here's my list:

*Best of 2008*

Best Movie I Saw:
-The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford [link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp2ppYB9fDo)]

Best Music I Heard (song):
-She Ionizes and Atomizes by Modest Mouse [link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdTnIHkjecA)]

Best Book I Read:
-Memoir From Antproof Case by Mark Helprin [link (http://www.amazon.com/Memoir-Antproof-Case-Mark-Helprin/dp/0151000972/ref=ed_oe_h)]

Best Game I Played:
-Indigo Prophecy [link (http://xbox.ign.com/objects/663/663657.html)]

Umbrae

01-05-2009, 07:33 AM

Cool topic. I gotta think a bit before posting my answers.

ChukoLiang

01-05-2009, 11:26 AM

Best Movie I Saw: Tempted to say The Game, just to be surprising, but honestly, it's The Dark Knight.

Best Music I Heard (song): Jimmy Eat World - Firefight (I doubt the majority of you would like the song, but I do, and I'm really bored with a lot of my music)

Best Book I Read: Mort, by Terry Pratchett.

Best Game I Played: I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that the best game I've played that I played for the first time in 2008 has got to be Persona 4. I'm nowhere near finished, but it's the best game I can honestly remember playing in 2008 the first time. I'm sure maybe there was one in january that was just as good or better, but it's all blurred together by now.

Cool topic, glass. Wish I wasn't so lazy I'm not gonna make links.

AlucardsFate

01-05-2009, 02:05 PM

Best Music I Heard: Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace - Foo Fighters. I didn't really start listening to the CD [despite owning it] until 2008. Also so them live. Awesome.

Damn right! Though I bought the disc the day it was released...(I spent my last $15 on it at the Best Buy next door to my work. (At the time anyway)

Also...PSM...I kinda like Jimmy Eat World....I'm interested to hear this song...

KomodoAce

01-05-2009, 03:39 PM

Best movie: I'm torn here, since I can watch TDK over and over again, yet never get tired of it. At the same time, I think Benjamin Button was an outstanding movie. It may have been short on the "blockbuster" and flashy material, but I felt more connected to the characters of Button than Batman and crew. In Bruges was great too.

Since I have to pick, I'll go with Benjamin Button.

I'm intentionally leaving out any "old movies" I saw for the first time this year, since this list would be even bigger than it is now.

Best Music: Boy, this will be even harder for me. I listened to so much new good stuff this year, but I'll have to put Yeah Yeah Yeahs on top.

Karen O's voice is SOOO sexy. I wish I had discovered these guys a lot earlier.

Best Book/Comic: Watchmen wins this. I just started reading comics this year and nothing has stuck with me longer than Watchmen.

Not Dark Knight Returns, Punisher MAX, Spiderman: Reign, not even the Civil War arc of Marvel.

"Who Watches the Watchmen" will be forever ingrained into my mind.

Best Game: Fallout 3 would win this easily, if we were doing it solely based on the gameplay.

But I can't say no to my infatuation for MGS. MGS4, while not the most memorable game of the series, wrapped up everything nicely.

It may have resorted to a crazy "deus ex machina" to explain some things and I still don't feel motivated to play it through a second time, but damn it, the game was as epic as they came.

While it was more like an interactive movie at times, it was a fitting end(?) to the MGS games.

GlassAdam

01-05-2009, 04:08 PM

Wow, PSM, you really did like The Game, huh?

KnightAttack, I'm surprised to see Indiana Jones on the list... I hadn't heard anything good about it until I read your post!

Alucards, the music choice was tough for me, because I can't think of any CDs I bought in 2008! So I wussed out and went with an individual song.

KomodoAce, yeah Watchmen is FAR superior to anything else in you thought about for that category, IMO, although Dark Knight Returns comes pretty close. I didn't realize you just started reading comics LAST YEAR! You should read "Preacher."

KomodoAce

01-05-2009, 04:10 PM

I've heard great things about Preacher too. I'll look into that sometime.

I'm not really a big comic book fan, but if I hear something is out and the premise is good (or if it's Batman), I'll read it.

ChukoLiang

01-05-2009, 09:51 PM

I need to read Atomic Robo. Brian Clevinger's a great writer (to me, anyway) and I would love to read more of his works.

GlassAdam

01-05-2009, 09:55 PM

Clevinger? Never heard of him, I'll have to do some Googlin'.

ChukoLiang

01-05-2009, 10:04 PM

Brian Clevinger writes (and created) 8-Bit Theatre, Nuklear Age (something else I need to read) as well as Atomic Robo, a comic about, as far as I can tell, a badass indiana jones-like robot that fights nazis and commies and others.

I don't know much about it, unfortunately, but I like the art style.

AlucardsFate

01-05-2009, 10:22 PM

I'll post my list...as soon as I see my last 2006 film that I had set my sights on...

I'm acquiring it now...

GlassAdam

01-05-2009, 10:31 PM

I'll post my list...as soon as I see my last 2006 film that I had set my sights on...

I'm acquiring it now...

Uh-uh, pal. Anything you watch today will have to go on your "Best Of 2009" list when somebody creates one in a year! This list is for stuff you heard/read/saw/played between Jan 1, 2008 and Dec 31, 2008!

AlucardsFate

01-05-2009, 11:01 PM

Sorry...I don't see it that way...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/G-Prime/Snub.jpg

Heiae

01-05-2009, 11:07 PM

But.. It says "Best of 2008." There's no wiggle room. That's what it is!

My list is coming.. SLOOOOWLY.

AlucardsFate

01-05-2009, 11:12 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/G-Prime/AngrySasami-1.jpg

GlassAdam

01-05-2009, 11:12 PM

But.. It says "Best of 2008." There's no wiggle room. That's what it is!
Hahahaha
Sorry...I don't see it that way...
It's okay, Alucards, I'm sure you experienced some quality entertainment media in the last year. Rack your brain, you'll think of something.

RimDot

01-05-2009, 11:23 PM

Best Movie: I'm kinda going blank on all the movies I saw this year so I'm going to say Wall-E.

Best Music: Clazziquai. All of their stuff is awesome.

Best Book: Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain.

Best Game: Fallout 3, I guess.

GlassAdam

01-06-2009, 12:40 AM

Oooh I'm definitely gonna be looking up that Anthony Bourdain book...

Baberific

01-06-2009, 12:56 AM

man, a list, I freaking suck at lists...but me being a freaking lunatic and all, must do things I SUCK AT!

Best movie: Now this is a match between milk, slumdog millionare, and the wrestler....but overall, the movie that took me by the hand and showed me many wondrous things, was slumdog millionare. Danny boyle scored a knockout with this one, and it also takes place in mumbai, which as of now, HAS UNDERGONE A CRAP LOAD OF CHAOS.

Best Music: A band that I got introduced to this year blew me away with it's extreme experimentation, and that band is Sigur Ros. The cd that was just amazing was Sigur Ros: Heima. It's kind of funny that I have heard many of their songs without knowing anything about them. From vanilla sky, to the life aquatic, many of their soothing/ frantic tracks have made an appearence. This Icelandic band just plain rocks.

Best Game:heh, with so many big blockbuster titles, I chose one that strayed away from the rest, and that particular game is Mega man 9. Frustration combined with retro goodness made megaman 9 my favorite game of 08.

Best comic book: This is a match between the godly hellsing, and the unstoppablme watchen, and of course, WATCHMEN WINS!!
Funny how this is the first DC comic I ever bought, and boy, WAS IT EXTREMELY SATISFYING!!! Makes me hope that the movie based on the comic does not tarnish it.

Best book: The kite runner, nough said.

ReverendHobo

01-06-2009, 01:46 AM

*Best of 2008*

Best Movie I Saw:
-The Dark Knight - Aw yeah, I loved that movie.

Best Music I Heard (song):
-Uh... Dunno I'm not too into the musix, so I don't really keep track of everything I've heard this year.

Best Book I Read:
- Feet of Clay By Terry Pratchett - PMS let me borrow it, it was real good-like.

Best Game I Played:
- Fallout 3 - Completely awesome.

SnakeEyez

01-07-2009, 12:55 AM

Best Movie I Saw: Wall-E
Runner-up: The Dark Knight
I had to think about this one for a while since Wall-E and Dark Knight were both very good movies. What can I say? I just liked Wall-E a teeny tiny itty bitty bit better.

Best Song I Heard: "Sail On" by Masterplan (LINK) (http://www.imeem.com/people/stBoQtM/music/MvLo6XMv/sail_on_masterplan/)
Runner-up: "Overdosing Heavenly Bliss" by Falcom jdk Band (LINK) (http://media.putfile.com/Falcom-jdk-Band-2008-Spring---Overdosing-Heavenly-Bliss-The-Legend-of-Heroes-So)
Overdosing Heavenly Bliss is one of the best video game remixes I've ever heard. Even if you're not a big fan of remixes, this is still a fantastic song in all regards. However, Sail On earns the distinction of being my favorite song of 2008 because it just rocks way too much. It's so fast-paced and inspirational and catchy that it makes me want to go out and run a marathon or something. Many thanks to the Baber for introducing me to this song.

Best Book I Read: "Erasure" by Percival Everett (LINK) (http://www.amazon.com/Erasure-Novel-Percival-Everett/dp/1584650907/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231292907&sr=1-1)
Runner-up: "Candide" by Voltaire (LINK) (http://www.amazon.com/Candide-Dover-Thrift-Editions-Voltaire/dp/0486266893/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231292953&sr=1-1)
Candide is absolutely hilarious. Imagine a 14th-century version of Forrest Gump and you'd have a pretty good synopsis of this book. The main character is just this clueless buffoon who stumbles from place to place without any rhyme or reason, yet still somehow manages to find himself smack dab in the middle of all the world's most important events. Erasure is just a really well-told story about a black author who is trying to find his identity, but society keeps heaping all these labels on him that he can't escape. It's an excellent story that deals with topics like escapism, identity loss, family trauma, racism, and self-expression. Go read it.

Best Game I Played: Dragon Quest VIII
Runner-up: Disgaea 2
Dragon Quest VIII is one of the best RPGs I've ever played -- certainly the best I've played in 2008. It's an engaging, old-fashioned battle between good and evil that granted a surprisingly effervescent breath of fresh air among the oh-so-serious and complex games of today. Disgaea 2 takes the second-place spot for being entertaining, quirky, off-the-wall, charming, and absolutely addictive. Don't believe me? Just ask PSM.

RedWizard

01-07-2009, 02:18 AM

Best of '08, huh? For me, I'd say...

Movie:
Iron Man. I won't argue, I really did like The Dark Knight, but I felt it was bogged down by the lengthiness and the odd ambiguity at the end concerning Two-Face and the apparent focus on Commissioner Gordon's son. What exactly were you thinking Mr. Nolan? Still, it was a step up from Batman Begins. Anyway, Iron Man stuck out better in my mind. It had the perfect blend of comedy and just enough action to make it well worth the admission price.

Music:
In what may shock and appall many members of Foxkei, I'm gonna have to say "Sweet Home Alabama All Summer Long" by Kid Rock. I have to admit, I love this song, and the fact that Kid Rock sang it is earth-shattering, in my opinion. This song... just rocks. Plus, I haven't heard any other song from '08 that I cared about anyway. So yeah.

Literature:
I haven't read alot of books in 2008, but among those I have, I'm gonna have to go with a semi-surprise: Mrs. Frisby and The Rats of NIMH. Though considered a children's book, this is probably one of the more epic tales I've read all my life. I'd suggest you all go out and read it, borrow a copy from your library, if nothing else. But, I'm sure many of you aren't manly enough to hid the kids' section. Heh, I am though.

Game:
2008 seems to be a year of big announcements and releases. Look at all the games that were released: Fallout 3, Metal Gear Solid 4, Mega Man 9... But ultimately, it seems 2008 was a year of mostly good games, not great games. I haven't played any PS3 exclusives, so I can't comment on that, but what I have seen of both the 360 exclusives and multiplatform games kinda has me shaking my head. Look at The Force Unleashed, for example. Huge build up and press, and the final product fell far below expectations. Plagued with glitches, a mess of characters I don't really care about, and a frighteningly short storyline, The Force Unleashed was a major let down. I could go on like this on just about any game from '08. So ultimately, I'm going to say that the game with the least amount of problems, that I enjoyed the most, was Ninja Gaiden II. Yeah, it was actually pretty epic. All the control and gameplay features that made the XBOX titles so successful were polished and refined to near-perfection on the 360. The story wasn't bad at all, certainly worthy of the title Ninja Gaiden. And the difficulty, was, well, difficult. Ninja Gaiden II's biggest problem lies in its lack of unlockables. And the pointless Crystal Skull collecting. Really, they serve no purpose other than to raise your gamerscore. But, that said, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, so Ninja Gaiden II all the way!

AmuroRay

01-07-2009, 02:24 AM

Best Game: Fallout 3, those who have played it does not need me to explain why.

Best Movie: The Dark Knight, Heath's performance on Joker is just so spectacular.

Best Album: It's a tie with Viva La Vida/Prospekt's March by Coldplay, and Ferry Corsten's Twice In A Blue Moon.

Baberific

01-07-2009, 02:53 AM

hmmm....I introduced snakeEyez top a song????

I don't remember me ever giving someone advice on music!

oh, I forgot to add something.

Best product from an ad that DID NOT HAVE BILLY MAYS!: That product, which I have grown to love, is shamwow, cause for once, a product on the tv actually works. THIS THING CAN HOLD A CRAP LOAD OF MOISTURE!!!

and it has a funky white guy in commercial!!! "The germans made it, the germans always make good stuff!!"

WanderingMind

01-07-2009, 02:56 AM

I'll need some time to think about my list...

AlucardsFate

01-07-2009, 03:55 AM

RedWizard

01-08-2009, 11:44 PM

KomodoAce

01-08-2009, 11:53 PM

GlassAdam

01-08-2009, 11:54 PM

I hate you.

How I hate you.

Damn people who don't know the titles of songs. It's one of my biggest Pet Peeves.

Loose the Sweet Home Alabama, then you have the correct name song.

It pisses me off when I see someone have the wrong song title, especially on songs people should know. When you say "songs people should know", are you referring to a Kid Rock song? Because that's kind of a big mistake there, assuming that anybody actually cares what the titles of any of that guy's songs are. Also, calm down, it'll be okay.

hmmm....I introduced snakeEyez top a song????

I don't remember me ever giving someone advice on music!

oh, I forgot to add something.

Best product from an ad that DID NOT HAVE BILLY MAYS!: That product, which I have grown to love, is shamwow, cause for once, a product on the tv actually works. THIS THING CAN HOLD A CRAP LOAD OF MOISTURE!!!

and it has a funky white guy in commercial!!! "The germans made it, the germans always make good stuff!!"
I'm thinking maybe he saw you list it in the "What are you listening to?" thread... That's just my theory. Also, the shamwow commercial is AWESOME! The spokesman for it is great, he's so much cooler than Billy Mays.

KomodoAce

01-08-2009, 11:56 PM

That shamwow guy is awesome.

So smooth.

AlucardsFate

01-09-2009, 12:05 AM

That shamwow guy is awesome.

So smooth.

But have you seen his "Slap Chop"?

Your gonna love his nuts!

KomodoAce

01-09-2009, 12:06 AM

Ahahaha, chopped nuts.

RimDot

01-09-2009, 01:02 AM

In what may shock and appall many members of Foxkei, I'm gonna have to say "Sweet Home Alabama All Summer Long" by Kid Rock. I have to admit, I love this song, and the fact that Kid Rock sang it is earth-shattering, in my opinion. This song... just rocks. Plus, I haven't heard any other song from '08 that I cared about anyway. So yeah.

I don't like Kid Rock but, you got to have a certain amount of respect for the guy. How many artists in the music industry have respect from the fans of country, metal and hip-hop?

...Excuse me while I go hurl on a copy of Coldplay's latest album "Copyright Infringement"...oh wait that's not right, it's "Viva La Vida"...

SnakeEyez

01-09-2009, 01:50 AM

hmmm....I introduced snakeEyez top a song????

I don't remember me ever giving someone advice on music!

It was inadvertent, but yes, you're the one who introduced me to this song. You posted a link to this AMV (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5SEiSo78Yk&feature=channel_page) on Foxkei a little while ago, remember? "Sail On" is the name of the song, and I fell in love with it the first time I heard it.

So...thanks for that. You're even awesome when you're not trying to be.

ReverendHobo

01-09-2009, 03:24 AM

That shamwow guy is awesome.

So smooth.

They use jump cuts in that commercial!

After he pours the "cola" on the carpet square, you see a big puddle form underneath.

A few seconds (and one jump cut) later, after blatantly saying, "All in one shot" the puddle completely disappears before he even puts the sham on it.

PSRT

01-09-2009, 03:29 AM

Those commercials drive me crazy....When ever I'm at the mall and I'm walking by the As Seen on TV store, I always hear some fool giving the same damn speech about that thing. Of course, I bought one for my dad for Christmas, so I suppose their arcane advertising was effective.

Baberific

01-09-2009, 05:50 AM

It was inadvertent, but yes, you're the one who introduced me to this song. You posted a link to this AMV (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5SEiSo78Yk&feature=channel_page) on Foxkei a little while ago, remember? "Sail On" is the name of the song, and I fell in love with it the first time I heard it.

So...thanks for that. You're even awesome when you're not trying to be.

oh wait, I remember that now!!! I guess reminders come in handy!!!

and me?? awesome when I'm not trying to be?? That's not possible...for only a person such as heiae can do what is not supposed to function in this point of space and time!!!

Billy mays, also known as william D. mays, is now the owner of a million dollar advertising corporation...NO SURPRISE!!!!

NosLived

01-09-2009, 08:33 AM

NosLived's Best of '08

Best Movie
-Kung Fu Panda. (Didn't care much for The Dark Knight)

Best Song
-Just Melody - UVERworld

Best Book
-The Bro Code - By Barney Stinson

Best Game
-Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (Very close with Persona 3 though.)

The ShamWOW dude can talk me into buying anything. In fact, my friends and I often joked about him wondering if he'd be the greatest cocaine dealer ever lol.

RimDot

01-09-2009, 11:47 PM

What's up with his face? Is it stuck like that?

AlucardsFate

01-09-2009, 11:51 PM

What's up with his face? Is it stuck like that?

He looks like Firemarshall Bill...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n232/micah61797/Living-Color-BH-03.jpg

RimDot

01-09-2009, 11:54 PM

Hahahahahaa! He does! That's awesome!

NosLived

01-10-2009, 12:19 AM

lmao! Classic!

GlassAdam

03-01-2009, 05:53 PM

Nicely done, Alucards. You found the PERFECT Fire Marshall Bill pic for that!

Also, looking at the Shamwow guy's picture makes me think about how how bad the backlash against fauxhawks is going to be in a few years. They're already going out of style now I think, but in a few years-- judging from that picture-- people are really gonna be saying "what were we thinking" even more than they were for, say, trucker hats...

Best Song I Heard: "Sail On" by Masterplan (LINK) (http://www.imeem.com/people/stBoQtM/music/MvLo6XMv/sail_on_masterplan/)

So I listened to that "Sail On" song through your link. Man, that sounds like it's from a videogame, probably something hardcore that would kick my ass! haha Alternately, I think it would fit in nicely in a Van Damme movie! :D

SnakeEyez

03-03-2009, 02:54 AM

Here, I uploaded it onto Mediafire if you want it.

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?uzninjduhmy

CheDuff

03-15-2009, 08:07 PM

Best Movie I Saw:
-Slumdog Millionaire. Did not expect it to be as good as it turned out to be.

Best Music I Heard (song):
-She & Him volume One. Beautiful little gem here.

Best Game I Played:
This ones really tough. Metal Gear Solid 4, Dead Space, and LittleBigPlanet, are my favorite games of 08. Buuutt, I'm sticking with LittleBigPlanet. This game is so damn deep.

Everyday people keep adding more and more new and amazing creations. Things you don't think are possible to do with the game, are. That, and this is the only game to ever make me laugh constantly, every time I get on it. I'll be playing this game till it ends.