Ip Man (2008)

Followed by Ip Man 2 (2010). Behind every great man there lies a teacher, and this was certainly true of Bruce Lee, who claimed as his mentor a martial arts expert named Ip Man. A genius of Wushu (or the Chinese martial arts school), Ip Man grew up in a China nearly ripped to pieces by racial hatred, nationalistic strife, and warfare. He rose like a phoenix above these ashes, however, courtesy of his participation in matches against various Wushu masters and kung fu warriors -- ultimately training martial arts icons such as Lee. Defined by courage and humility, one man rises to the fore, Grandmaster Ip Man, whose matchless fighting skills are revered all over China. Upon refusing to teach his beloved fighting art to the invading Japanese soldiers, he is forced to fight for the honor of his country in a series of battles that will culminate in a kill or be killed showdown with General Miura Japan’s greatest fighter.

Director: Wilson Yip
Writer: Edmond Wong
Stars: Donnie Yen, Simon Yam and Siu-Wong Fan
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1220719/

The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)

Anne and Mary Boleyn are under pressure from their father and uncle to help maintain the family's rich legacy and ensure their further prosperity by winning the affections of none other than the king of England. But life in the royal court is far different than it was in the countryside where these two sisters were raised, and before long their bid to earn the love of the king has transformed two once-happy sisters into bitter rivals. At first, it appears that Mary has triumphed in winning the king's favor by becoming his mistress and bearing him an illegitimate child. Despite her early success, however, Mary has underestimated just how clever and cunning her sibling can truly be. Not only does the relentless Anne manage to edge aside her sister in the eyes of King Henry, but she also succeeds in averting his gaze from his wife, Queen Catherine of Aragon, as well. Mary is driven by genuine affection for King Henry, while her sister Anne has only kept up the charade in a desperate bid to become the queen of England. Now, the growing chasm between two sisters is mirrored on a larger scale as England becomes divided more than ever before. As the consequences of their actions threaten to alter the course of an entire nation, these two sisters will ultimately discover that the only place they will find true strength and loyalty is in family, and that no matter what the consequences they will forever be bound by blood.

Director: Justin Chadwick
Writers: Peter Morgan (screenplay) and Philippa Gregory (novel)
Stars: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0467200/

The Other Man (2008)

In Cambridge, the software engineer Peter and the shoe designer Lisa are successful in their careers and have been happily married for twenty-five years. They have an adult daughter, Abigail, and Lisa frequently travels to Milano to do business with the Gianni & Gianni Company. When Lisa is gone, Peter finds a message in her cellular and decides to snoop her e-mails and discovers in a secret folder named Love that she had a lover, Ralph. Peter travels to Milano and stalks Ralph; he finds that the man plays chess in a bar. Peter gets close to Ralph and discusses his relationship with Lisa without knowing that he is her husband.

Director: Richard Eyre
Writers: Richard Eyre (screenplay) and Bernhard Schlink (short story)
Stars: Liam Neeson, Antonio Banderas and Laura Linney
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0974613/

Swing Vote (2008)

November, 2004, New Mexico. Bud is a slacker with one good thing in his life, his engaging fifth-grade daughter Molly. On election day, Bud is supposed to meet her at the polling place. When he doesn't show, she sneaks a ballot and is about to vote when the power goes off. It turns out that New Mexico's electoral votes will decide the contest, and there it's tied with one vote needing recasting - Bud's. The world's media and both presidential candidates, including the current President, descend on Bud in anticipation of his re-vote in two weeks. Can the clueless Bud, even with the help of Molly and a local TV reporter, handle this responsibility? 

Director: Joshua Michael Stern
Writers: Jason Richman and Joshua Michael Stern
Stars: Kevin Costner, Paula Patton and Kelsey Grammer
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1027862/

Gigantic (2008)

Do we ever get what we want? Brian sells mattresses in a warehouse store. His father and older brothers have material success; he wants a child. He's applied to adopt a baby from China. A man who appears homeless seems to be stalking Brian with violent intent. He meets Happy, the daughter of a rich, quirky customer. She doesn't stick to anything, but she and Brian hit it off, except for her vomiting when she learns about his adoption idea. He wants her to meet his family, and there's a call about the adoption. What will Happy do?

Director: Matt Aselton
Writers: Adam Nagata and Matt Aselton
Stars: Paul Dano, Zooey Deschanel and John Goodman
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1176251/

Kissing Cousins (2008)

Amir is a heartbreaker... literally. As a relationship termination specialist, he provides dumping services for disgruntled daters and spends his days delivering the bad news to unsuspecting lovers across Los Angeles. Though Amir claims he is just the messenger, the job makes him cynical and, as a result, the last bachelor in his group of friends. This becomes clear when his recently-engaged best friends tells him he can no longer be his Best Man because of bad relationship karma. When Amir returns to his family's home for Thanksgiving, he is reunited with his long-lost cousin, Zara, who decides to hitch a ride back to LA with him. As a joke, the two cousins pretend to be a couple in front of Amir's friends and their charade comes dangerously close to going too far.

Director: Amyn Kaderali
Writer: Amyn Kaderali
Stars: Samrat Chakrabarti, Rebecca Hazlewood and Rachael C. Smith
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822819/

Mirrors (2008)

Followed by Mirrors 2 (2010). Ex-cop Ben Carson takes a job as a night watchman at the burned-out ruins of the Mayflower department store. As he patrols the eerie, charred remains of the store, he begins to notice something sinister about the ornate mirrors that adorn the Mayflower walls. Reflected in the gigantic shimmering glass are horrific images that stun Carson. He soon discovers that a deadly threat looms, trapped within the mirrors and reflective surfaces that pervade his everyday life. And if he has any hope of saving his wife and children from a horrifying death, Carson must somehow uncover the truth behind the mirrors - and battle the greatest evil he has ever faced.

Director: Alexandre Aja
Writers: Alexandre Aja and Grégory Levasseur
Stars: Kiefer Sutherland, Paula Patton and Amy Smart
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0790686/

10,000 BC (2008)

A prehistoric epic that follows a young mammoth hunter named D'Leh's journey through uncharted territory to secure the future of his tribe. When a band of mysterious horse-riding warlords raid the Yaghal camp and kidnaps his heart's desire - the beautiful Evolet along with many others, D'Leh is forced to lead a small group of hunters south to pursue the warlords to the end of the world to save her. Driven by destiny, the unlikely band of warriors must battle saber-toothed cats and terror birds in the Levant.

Director: Roland Emmerich
Writers: Roland Emmerich and Harald Kloser
Stars: Camilla Belle, Steven Strait and Marco Khan
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443649/

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)

Sidney Young is a disillusioned intellectual who both adores and despises the world of celebrity, fame and glamor. His alternative magazine, Post Modern Review, pokes fun at the media obsessed stars and bucks trends, and so when Young is offered a job at the diametrically opposed conservative New York based Sharps magazine its something of a shock! It seems Sharps editor Clayton Harding is amused by Young's disruption of a post-BAFTA party with a pig posing as Babe. Thus begins Sidney's descent into success - his gradual move from derided outsider to confidante of starlet Sophie Maes. Initially helping him out at Sharps is colleague Alison Olsen, who has her own secret. Wither their friendship?

Director: Robert B. Weide
Writers: Peter Straughan (screenplay) and Toby Young (book)
Stars: Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst and Megan Fox
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455538/

Franklyn (2008)

Set between contemporary London and the dystopic Meanwhile City, where the separation between church and state has been obliterated to make way for a religion-dominated society. Atheist vigilante Jonathan Preest prepares to seek revenge against Meanwhile City's powerful leader, privileged artist Emilia finds her cynicism and depression accelerated by the difficult relationship she shares with her mother. Meanwhile, sensitive Milo attempts to recover from a recent heartache, just as deeply religious Peter arrives in London to search for his missing son, a haunted Gulf War veteran. As the narrative shifts between the real and imaginary worlds, McMorrow explores the complex relationships between fantasy, faith, and love.

Director: Gerald McMorrow
Writer: Gerald McMorrow
Stars: Ryan Phillippe, Eva Green and Bernard Hill
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0893402/

The Strangers (2008)

After returning from a wedding reception, a couple staying in an isolated vacation house receive a knock on the door in the mid-hours of the night. What ensues is a violent invasion by three strangers, their faces hidden behind masks. The couple find themselves in a violent struggle, in which they go beyond what either of them thought capable in order to survive.

Director: Bryan Bertino
Writer: Bryan Bertino
Stars: Scott Speedman, Liv Tyler and Gemma Ward
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482606/

City of Ember (2008)

 

The City of Ember was built over 200 year ago, deep below the earth, where the destruction of a mass-scale disaster couldn't reach it. Equipped with a massive generator and vast supplies, the people of Ember have thrived happily for generations -- but the city wasn't meant to be lived in forever. The generator is breaking down and the supplies are running out, but two centuries in isolation have robbed the Emberites of their knowledge -- nobody knows how the electric lights work anymore, and nobody understands that there's something beyond the city besides darkness. Nobody, that is, besides Lina and Doon, two teenagers who still have the hope that everyone else has lost to ignorance and apathy -- not to mention a sheet of instructions left by the Builders themselves explaining how to leave the city. But the 200-year-old paper is falling apart, and pieces are missing. So with the lights threatening to flicker out for the last time and leave Ember in darkness forever, Lina and Doon set out on an adventure through the streets, sewers, and dark caverns of Ember to put the pieces back together. To solve the mystery, they'll have to get inside the Builders' heads, and avoid the grasp of corrupt Mayor Cole, who wants to keep Ember the way it is -- no matter what the cost.

Director: Gil Kenan
Writers: Caroline Thompson (screenplay) and Jeanne Duprau (book)
Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Toby Jones and Bill Murray
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970411/

Hell Ride (2008)

 

Two rival biker gangs, the Victors and the Six-Six-Sixers, have been at war for years. On July 4th, 1976 the Six-Six-Sixers kill and burn the Victors' president's wife. Now, 32 years later, they're getting revenge. The Victors are headed up by the gang's president, Pistolero, The Gent, and recently added member Comanche. The Six-Six-Sixers is lead by Billy Wings, a ruthless biker who uses an air powered crossbow.

Director: Larry Bishop
Writer: Larry Bishop
Stars: Larry Bishop, Dennis Hopper and Michael Madsen
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0411475/

The Chaser (2008)

 

Jung-ho is a former cop who now operates on the other side of the law. When his girls start disappearing without clearing their debts, Jung-ho rightly begins to suspect foul play. Shortly thereafter, Jung-ho receives a call for a girl and dispatches Mi-jin -- recognizing all too late that his latest customer's telephone number exactly matches that of the man who hired the last prostitute that went missing. His detective's instincts now kicking into full gear, Jung-ho races desperately through the streets in search of Mi-jin. After denting a car in a dark ally, the eagle-eyed pimp notices that the driver of the car he collided with is wearing a blood-spattered shirt. Jung-ho gives chase, eventually catching the man. Later, at the police station, Young-min admits that he is indeed the killer that police have been searching for, and that Mi-jin is quite possibly still alive. The law states that the police can only hold the suspected serial killer for 12 hours, but is that enough time for Jung-ho to rescue Mi-jin and prove Young-min's guilt?

Director: Hong-jin Na
Writers: Shinho Lee and Hong-jin Na
Stars: Yun-seok Kim, Jung-woo Ha and Yeong-hie Seo
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1190539/

Red Cliff (2008)

 

Adapted in part from the beloved Chinese tome Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Red Cliff opens in the year 208 A.D., just as prime minister-turned-general Cao Cao seeks permission from Han Dynasty emperor Xian to organize a southward-bound mission designed to silence troublesome warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan. As the expedition gets under way, Cao Cao's troops rain destruction on Liu Bei's army, forcing the latter to retreat and convincing Liu Bei's military strategist Zhuge Liang that their only hope for victory is to form an alliance with Sun Quan. Increasingly aware of the monumental struggle ahead, both sides begin preparing for the battle that will ultimately shape the future of an entire nation.

Director: John Woo
Writers: John Woo and Khan Chan
Stars: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Fengyi Zhang
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425637/

Untraceable (2008)

 

As a cybercimes investigator on the frontline of the war against virtual criminals, Special Agent Jennifer Marsh thought she had seen it all. She realizes just how wrong she is, however, when she learns of a technologically advanced psychopath who has set up the world's first-ever snuff website. Audience participation is key on the ingenious killer's website, because the more hits his page gets the quicker he is to dispatch his victims. But how does one catch a killer who has covered their cyber-tracks with the web-savvy skills of a world-class hacker? Now, as the hunt becomes personal, Marsh vows to use every resource at her disposal in order to catch the killer before he logs on for another round of cyber slaughter.

Director: Gregory Hoblit
Writers: Robert Fyvolent and Mark Brinker
Stars: Diane Lane, Colin Hanks and Joseph Cross
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0880578/

The Midnight Meat Train (2008)

 

Leon Kaufman is just another struggling photographer in search of the perfect subject. Encouraged to explore the sinister side of humanity by a prominent art gallery proprietor who is set to display his upcoming debut, Leon goes against the wishes of his girlfriend, Maya, and begins stalking notorious serial killer Mahogany -- whose sadistic murder spree has been making headlines all across the country. As Leon's fascination with Mahogany gradually grows into obsession, his descent into the killer's putrid world of murder begins to corrupt his soul while simultaneously dragging his concerned girlfriend down a perverse path of darkness from which there is no return.

Director: Ryûhei Kitamura
Writers: Jeff Buhler (screenplay) and Clive Barker (short story)
Stars: Vinnie Jones, Bradley Cooper and Leslie Bibb
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805570/