I was waiting to see Wall-E to post this, and gladly saw it yesterday so I feel like a half-way best of list is warranted (in EW-inspired form).

I'm skipping the commentary, because figuring out this order was work enough, but quickly regarding Wall-E, I was mesmerized. There are so many complexities to the film's many layers (robot love story, homage to Chaplin-era silent film, commentaries on the environment and utilitarian societies, and the way they play with gender between the two robots at the center of the story... its pretty amazing), but its so graceful aesthetically and narratively you don't at all feel overwhelmed. Pixar's growing filmography truly challenges any era of animated feature films in terms of consistency or pretty much any complimentary aspect, as they churn out exceedingly brilliant films year after year (if you just ignore the slightly under-par Cars). Bring on Up.

Anyway, Wall-E tops my list, just as Ratatouille did a year ago. The list has all 30 2008 releases I've seen, and includes films I've seen at festivals that have an announced 2008 release date coming up. Glancing at it, particularly the top bunch, its pretty gay and Canadian, but I swear its not biased. Films from either of those groups (unless they involve Sarah Polley) have been getting much play on personal lists as of late.

1. Wall-E | A
2. Up The Yangtze | A
3. Paranoid Park | A-
4. Derek | A-
5. Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired | A-
6. Chris & Don. A Love Story | A-
7. My Winnipeg | B+
8. Vicky Cristina Barcelona | B+
9. The Visitor | B+
10. Iron Man | B+
11. A Jihad For Love | B+
12. American Teen | B+
13. Sunshine Cleaning | B+
14. Be Kind, Rewind | B
15. Savage Grace | B
16. Forgetting Sarah Marshall | B
17. In Bruges | B
18. Towelhead | B
19. Stuck | B-
20. Then She Found Me | B-
21. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | B-
22. Stop-Loss | C+
23. Sex and the City: The Movie | C+
24. Baby Mama | C+
25. Fugitive Pieces | C+
26. Choke | C+
27. Married Life | C
28. Changeling | C
29. Mad Money | D+
30. Meet Bill | D+

Regretfully missed (as of today): Wanted, The Edge of Heaven, Chop Shop, Flight of the Red Balloon, Bigger, Faster Stronger, Young@Heart

Opening within weeks and eagerly anticipated (make what you want of this, particularly with the third one): The Dark Knight, Hellboy II, Mamma Mia!, Pineapple Express