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Sitting in my favourite cinema, three rows back and just off centre on the right hand side, with a large box of salted popcorn has brought about some memorable moments in 2008. There was the child who kicked my seat consistently for the duration of There Will Be Blood who I can do nothing but admire for his persistence, the lovely old couple who made extraordinary loud noises from the back row whilst watching (listening to?) Definitely Maybe and who could forget the usher falling straight down the middle of the stairs halfway through Frost/Nixon. Apart from all that, some of the movies in 2008 weren't too bad either.

I must confess, with something like 650 movies being released in 2008, I wasn't quite able to attend all of them, or even a tenth if I'm honest but have all being well witnessed the best ones. Although there was a panda trying his luck at kung-fu and the coming of Carrie and the girls to the big screen, it was difficult to see how drama movies could compete with such intellect but thankfully, we have been blessed with a few classics. Sorry, I couldn't resist a pop at Sex and the City but I'm done now.

Lets start with The Dark Knight, possibly the best ever comic strip movie and a shining light from what was really a poor year for Warner Brothers. The late Heath Ledger is sensational as The Joker and absolutely steals the film, making it a bleak and brilliant treat. With a glut of make-up to frame the extra inches of smile that were once carved into his face, Ledger makes the character played by Jack Nicholson in 1989 look like a basic cartoon etching. The plaudits are truly deserved as The Joker comes to life.

Ok, so everyone knows what Batman is about by now but for those of you out there who still remember the Kapow', Wham' and Bosh' of the early adventures, The Dark Knight is a hugely pleasant surprise bringing the comic book story towards a whole new set of parameters. The movie is ironically about as long as night, more a Greek epic than any sort of action film but this is forgotten as you follow Batman, again played adequately well by Christian Bale, through the tormented streets of Gotham City.

With ethical mind traps, powerful performances, emotional confrontation and, for the action lovers, a fair share of thrills, chases and explosions, The Dark Knight is a must see.

Next up is the masterful There Will Be Blood. I must admit that upon reading the synopsis of the film, a story about crude oil and God set in Texas, it didn't sound particularly

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