The Dark Knight (2008)

Christian Bale’s Batman voice veers toward self-parody, Heath Ledger’s Joker sounds like he has peanut butter stuck to the roof of his mouth and the action is a loud mess. The most unbelievable part: An attorney (Aaron Eckhart) is the city’s supposed savior.

d: Christopher Nolan | imdb.com | trailer | Crying on the inside.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Jason Segel writes and stars in this break-up comedy, performing the first Dracula puppet musical and exposing himself (literally and emotionally) to Kristen Bell. But Russell Brand, as British rocker and sex god Aldous Snow, steals the movie.

d: Nicholas Stoller | imdb.com | trailer

Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show (2008)

Vince Vaughn rounds up four unfunny stand-ups from The Comedy Store in Los Angeles to perform 30 shows in 30 days in front of too-eager college audiences. The highlights turn out to be cameos by Dwight Yoakam, Jon Favreau and Justin Long.

d: Ari Sandel | imdb.com | trailer | Dinner for Five

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright and Nick Frost — the team behind “Shaun of the Dead” — pay homage to cop movies, capturing all of the genre’s clichés — from the fish out of water detective to the blood bath finale in deference to “Bad Boys II” and “Point Break.”

d: Edgar Wright | imdb.com | trailer | Pub.

Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

Based on the children’s fantasy book, the movie is grounded in reality — the well-told story of a boy and girl and their friendship. Josh Hutcherson captures the boy’s melancholy and AnnaSophia Robb the girl’s free spirit. She just might be a star.

d: Gabor Csupo | imdb.com | trailer | “Why Can’t We Be Friends”

The U.S. vs. John Lennon (2006)

When the documentary stays on target and lays off the sentiment, it’s a fascinating look at John Lennon in the 1970s — making love (with Yoko), not war. He also made Nixon’s enemies list and fought the U.S. government’s efforts to have him deported.

d: David Leaf, John Scheinfeld | imdb.com | trailer