Who will receive the coveted Skulls?!?*Note: These are my personal favorites for 2008.
[obviously I have not read every book published, seen every film or television show released, nor listened to every album produced this year - these are from what I can remember ~ I will have to keep a list for next year, as I had to rack my brain this year] :-)
Let's begin, alphabetically, shall we?
The Skull for Best Album goes to Metallica for Death Magnetic [this album rocks!!]
The Skull for Most Memorable Novel goes to Joseph D'Lacey for Meat [if you haven't read this book yet, you should!]
I am also going to give a Skull to both Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz for Iceman: My Fighting Life and This is Gonna Hurt: The Life of a Mixed Martial Arts Champion [respectively]
Of the many autobiographies that I read on mixed martial art fighters, these two stood out the most!
A Skull also goes to Stephenie Meyer for Breaking Dawn [a worthy conclusion to her Twilight Saga]
The Skull for Best Novel Written by a Christian Author goes to William P. Young for The Shack [a powerful, moving novel]
The Skull for Best Novel by a Debut Author goes to Brandon Ford for Crystal Bay [a great 1st novel]
The Skull for Best Horror Magazine goes to Rue Morgue [a top-notch magazine that I never get tired of reading!]
The Skull for Best Horror Novel goes to Ray Garton for Ravenous [an excellent werewolf novel!]
The Skull for Best Zombie Novel goes to Travis Adkins for After Twilight: Walking with the Dead [his sequel to After Twilight - Note: My review of this novel will be in the next issue of Hacker's Source magazine - also, my 1st ever "blurb" appears on this book!] :-)
The Skull for Best Event of the Year definitely goes to Chicago's Music Box Massacre IV [this was a 24-hour horror movie marathon shown in one of Chicago's old movie theatres - see blog dated 10/27/08]
The Skull for Best MMA Fighter goes to Anderson "the spider" Silva [my oldest daughter's favorite fighter ~ he dominated every fight that he was in this year!]
On to the movies. . .
The Skull for Best Action Film actually goes to two movies this year - Rambo & Punisher: War Zone [Rambo opened the year and Punisher closed it - these films perfectly book-end each other]
The Skull for Best Animated Film goes to Kung Fu Panda [a film you can watch repeatedly]
The Skull for Best Comedy goes to You Don't Mess with the Zohan [for me, this was laugh-out-loud funny!] *Note: I missed Pineapple Express in the theatres this year, and it doesn't hit DVD till next week - the 6th - this movie may have the potential to beat out Zohan. . .
The Skull for Best Movie Based on a Comic Book goes to Iron Man [I loved this film!]
The Skull for Best Film that went Direct-to-DVD goes to Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead [I would have gone to the theatre for this one]
The Skull for Best DVD Release of the Year goes to Pieces [a must buy film!]
The Skull for Best Family Film goes to three films this year - Nim's Island, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, and Speed Racer [I thought each of these films were excellent]
The Skull for Best Fantasy Film goes to Twilight [yes, this film is Fantasy - not Horror!]
The Skull for Best Foreign Film goes to Mongul: The Rise to Power of Genghis Khan [I cannot wait for the final two movies in this trilogy!]
The Skull for Best Foreign Horror Film goes to both Frontiere(s) and Inside [both French Horror Films]
The Skull for Best Horror Film goes to The Midnight Meat Train [if you haven't seen this film yet - do so!!] *Note: I keep hearing rave-reviews for the Swedish Film Let the Right One In - I haven't seen this one yet. . .
The Skull for Best Independent Film goes to Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead [see my review - dated 11/25/08]
The Skull for Best Martial Arts Film goes to The Forbidden Kingdom [this is the one starring both Jet Li and Jackie Chan]
The Skull for Best Mixed Martial Arts Film goes to Never Back Down [basically an MMA Karate Kid]
The Skull for Best Re-Make goes to The Day the Earth Stood Still [if they're going to re-make films, an award might as well go to the best one]
The Skull for Best Sci-Fi Film goes to X-Files: I Want to Believe [yes, I liked this one!]
The Skull for Best Sequel goes to The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian [I've heard rumors that they are not going to continue making these films - I hope this rumor isn't true!]
The Skull for Best Short Film goes to Of Darkness *Review forthcoming* and The Insane *you can watch this one on my post dated 11/11/08*
The Skull for Best War Film goes to Starship Troopers 3: Marauder [hey, it's a war on Bugs!] :-)
The Skull for Best Zombie Film goes to Zombies! Zombies! Zombies! [a hilarious low-budget independent film]
Now that the films are out of the way - how about the people behind them?
The Skull for Best Performance - hands down - goes to Heath Ledger for his portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight
The Skull for Best Director goes to Christopher Nolan for The Dark Knight
The Skull for Best Screenplay goes to David S. Goyer, Christopher Nolan, and Jonathan Nolan for The Dark Knight
The Skull for Best Special Effects goes to the F/X Team behind Hellboy II: The Golden Army
How about Television Shows?
The Skull for Best New Show goes to Legend of the Seeker [a show based on Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth Saga] Leverage [a new show that just started, recently, on TNT] and Eleventh Hour [based on the British Series that starred Patrick Stewart - this one is on CBS and stars Rufus Sewell]
Now, of course, along with the Best comes the Worst. . . here are my disappointments:
Most Disappointing Book was Edward Lee's Bride of the Impaler [I enjoy Lee's work, and I had great expectations for this one, however it failed to deliver - in my opinion]
Most Disappointing Movie was Cloverfield [for me, the film did not live up to its hype]
Most Disappointing Horror Film was The Happening [I had high hopes for this one]
Most Disappointing MMA Film was RedBelt [after Never Back Down, this one was a major let-down]
Most Disappointing Re-Make was The Eye [I actually thought this one had potential]
Most Disappointing Sci-Fi Film was Babylon A. D. [this film just plain sucked!]
Most Disappointing Sequel was Feast II: Sloppy Seconds [Review forthcoming]
Most Disappointing Zombie Film was Zombie Strippers [I saw this one in the theatres, and it just didn't do anything for me!]
Well, there you have it. . . I am sure that some of the above will garner some disagreements - please feel free to leave comments with your thoughts and opinions. . .
Before I sign off, I just wanted to list some of my favorite blogs that I've been reading this year:
For Movie Reviews I enjoy reading William Weird's http://beardedweirdoreviews.blogspot.com/ and Fred Wolf's http://fred-the-wolf.blogspot.com/ thoughts.
For Obscure Movie Reviews I enjoy reading Reverend Phantom's http://reverendphantom.blogspot.com/ and The Lightning Bug's http://www.thelightningbugslair.com/ opinions.
For Upcoming Entertainment News I enjoy reading The Geek's of Doom http://geeksofdoom.com/ and The Horror Geek http://thehorrorgeek.com/
Each of you get a Skull for Best Blogs :-)
HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!!
Jason
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22 comments:
Funny because Cloverfield ended up on my 10 Best and listed here as one of the worst. I can totally see that, however. Very fun list!
Great list. I gotta disagree with you about X-Files. That kinda sucked. MMT is #2 on my list behind Inside as the best horror film of 2008.
I keep hearing rave reviews about Poultrygeist. It looks like I'm going to need to see it.
Bo,
Yeah, for me Cloverfield wasn't all that - I'm not saying that it wasn't worthwhile, it just didn't live up to its potential.
[to me, Korea's The Host was a much better monster flick]
However, if they do decide to make a prequel to Cloverfield - I'll be there! :-)
J
JV,
I was a fan of the X-Files since about its 3rd show, so I think there was some nostalgia behind that choice ~ for me, it was just great to see Mulder & Scully re-united :-)
Yes, both Inside & Midnight Meat Train are awesome Horror flicks, and you Must See Poultrygeist!
J
HAPPY NEW YEAR!....from Madness Reigns and Dark Wings
How do you find time to read as well!
I'm flattered and excited to win a Bone Breaker Award! I'm so glad you enjoyed RAVENOUS. BESTIAL is a little less traditional, a bit wilder. I'd be happy to send you a copy if we can connect somehow. Have a great 2009!
Ray Garton
Happy New Year to you as well Dark Wings [and Madness Reigns!] ;-)
J
Mark,
Believe it or not - with 4 kids, etc, I still find the time! :-)
I LOVE to read, and I just squeeze in the time, whenever possible. . .
J
Ray,
I love ALL your work! :-)
What I really loved about Ravenous was your spin on the whole concept of lycanthropy [being spread through sex - very interesting!]
I am looking very forward to Bestial! [April 1st, correct?!?]
If possible, I would love an Advance Copy to review on this Blog - My e-mail address is thebonebreaker@gmail.com
Thanks for dropping by Ray!!
Jason
great list, yeah good stuff. I liked it.
p.s. my name is jorge, don jorge means sir jorge in spanish. Don is given to anyone that is "older" and while I'm young, I like to think of myself as deserving of a title.
Thanks Jorge, and I'm glad to hear that I've had your name right all along! :-)
J
cool list! made even cooler by my inclusion... thanks SOOOO much for the mention... I was very flattered and excited by you deeming my reviews blog-worthy... anyway, as I was saying, I really like the list, though (of course) we're in disagreement about a few things you and I... maybe I should make up a similar list sometime and we could compare and contrast!
STAY SICK!!! AND A HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Happy New Year! Very cool list, and so comprehensive too. I keep hearing about Poultrygeist. I'll definitely have to check it out. Sounds like I won't be disappointed.
William,
Definitely make up a list of your own [or just let me know your thoughts - they, of course, are welcome!] :-)
As for your Blog - I think everyone who reads it will enjoy it!!
J
Lisa,
Thanks! [and Poultrygeist is just a wacky movie all around - as long as you know what you are getting into, you should definitely enjoy it!] :-)
J
Sorry I'm so late getting to this one--but I've been away as you know. Thanx for the shout/award! You the man!
As I was breezing through your blog I saw a review for No Retreat, No Surrender--I must go check that one out now--keep up the good work, my man.
Oh and BTW, great choices for all of these.
Thanks Rev! ;-)
J
ADDENDUM:
I just watched Repo! The Genetic Opera - this one gets a Skull for Best Musical of 2008! :-)
See my review, dated 01/20/09
J
I was also disappointed by Ed Lee's 'Bride of the Impaler'.
I like Lee's more hardcore efforts far more than his mainstream ones.
He's not writing raw when he's pulling punches.
I enjoyed 'Ravenous' a lot, too.
Phantom,
Regarding Ed Lee, you said, "He's not writing raw when he's pulling punches" You said it perfectly - I agree with you 100%!
Glad to hear that you enjoyed Ravenous as well - I am looking forward to its upcoming sequel, Bestial!
J
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