Year End Awards

It’s the last day of the year so it’s time for my first annual “best of the year” awards where I dole out awards for things I liked best in 2008. I decide the categories and I pick the winners. Feel free disagree with my choices or offer your own suggestions in the comments.

Best Movie: The Dark Knight

I saw quite a few movies this year, but The Dark Knight was the best movie I had seen since Return of the King. It is moving, distrubing, suspenseful and more. Heath Ledger was brilliant, the action was spectacular and the story was great. I just saw it again last weekend on IMAX. I can no longer watch a movie on a regular screen again.

2nd Place: Wall-E

Best Album: Shinedown – The Sound of Madness

There were a lot of albums released this year that I liked, including: Def Leppard – Songs from the Sparkle Lounge, Disturbed – Indestructible, Metallica – Death Magnetic, Tesla – Forever More, Judas Priest – Nostradamus, Scars on Broadway, David Cook, Loverboy – Just Getting Started and probably others I’m missing.

But for my tastes, the one album I’ve been listening to non-stop has been Shinedown – The Sound of Madness. It’s got loud guitars, great singing and is just plain catchy.

2nd Place: Def Leppard – Songs from the Sparkle Lounge

Best Song: Shinedown – What a Shame

According to iTunes, the song released in 2008 that I played the most was C’mon, C’mon by Def Leppard. But the only reason this Shinedown song hasn’t been played more is that I haven’t had it as long.

2nd Place: Def Leppard – C’mon, C’mon

Best TV Show: Terminator – The Sarah Connor Chronicles

I love Lost, but it was only on during the first half of 2008. I’m also a big fan of Heroes, but it was only on the 2nd half of 2008. Battlestar Galactica and House, M.D. are also strong candidates, but since I started watching Terminator last spring it has really grown on me. Here’s hoping it finishes on a strong note in 2009 and gets renewed for another season.

2nd Place: Lost

Best Video Game: Lego Indiana Jones

I probably would have picked Guitar Hero or Rock Band, but I realized that the older versions were released in 2007 and I haven’t yet bought Rock Band 2 or Guitar Hero World Tour.

2nd Place: Rock Band (hey, it was new to me in 2008!)

My Best Blog Post

This was an easy pick: “Leaving the Day Job“. It still gets regular traffic to this day.

2nd Place: Upgrading a MacBook Pro to 6GB RAM

Best Gadget: iPhone 3G

I don’t even own an iPhone yet, and I’m picking it for best gadget. I don’t own an iPhone for a several reasons, all of which will hopefully be rectified soon:

1. AT&T did not initially have 3G service in Maine. They do now.
2. 16GB is just not big enough for me. In order to replace my 60GB iPod, I would want at least a 32GB iPhone, which I hope gets announced at MacWorld 2009.
3. My current Verizon plan doesn’t run out until July 2009. The day after it does run out, I will be purchasing an iPhone.

2nd Place: Asus Eee PC, Nintendo Wii (Tie)

Best Book: Help is on the Way – A collection of Basic Instructions

I don’t read nearly enough books, but this collection of comics by Scott Meyer is pretty darned funny.

2nd Place: Beyond Booked Solid – Michael Port

Best Musical: Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

OK, I just added this category to include Joss Whedon’s funny web musical with the catchy songs.

2nd Place: Nothing, I didn’t see any other musicals this year

Best Restaurant: Beale Street Barbeque

My favorite place by far. Unfortunately no one else in my family likes BBQ, so I can only go on Father’s Day and my birthday.

2nd Place: Wild Willy’s

I guess that’s enough for now. What are your “bests” for 2008?