There were many, many movies that, thankfully, ended up being NOT a waste of $8 and two hours of my life, and, like last week, I have divided them into four different categories: the films that I liked far more than I expected to; the films that surprised Moguls players everywhere by going well beyond their predictions; the best of the mega-gonzo-blockbusters, and of course, the best films of the year. Quite a few films, under my format, would qualify for the Top 5 in several of these categories, but, for the sake of variety, I've tried to spread myself out as much as I can. Keep in mind also that there were many critically-acclaimed movies that, by choice or otherwise, I never got around to seeing, so if your personal favorites are not on my list, my apologies.

Category No. 1: Wow, I Can't Believe It Was THAT Good!

5. Freedom Writers — Pretty much the only offering in all of January that was worth the price of admission, Hilary Swank's well-acted "uplifting teacher" drama struck a real chord with me. The true-to-life story of a teacher who successfully bridged racial and gender gaps via creative writing impressed me greatly, particularly the scene with Miep Gies. Very well done.

4. Talk to Me — I've always liked and admired Don Cheadle, but his portrayal of '70s D.C. shock jock Petey Greene deserves serious Oscar consideration, IMHO. The supporting cast, from Chiwetel Ejiofor to Cedric the Entertainer, was also outstanding. One of the best little big movies of the year.

3. Sicko — Being a person who actually works in the health care industry, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Michael Moore's anti-partisan rant. What I got was a well-told, laugh-till-you-cry, cry-till-you-laugh (albeit more than a little one-sided) exposition, where he tore the big insurance companies a new orifice. Bravo, Mr. Moore.

2. Music and Lyrics — First, a few confessions: I grew up in the era of early MTV/VH1, I have a particular innate fondness for schlocky British cheese, and I have a very VERY soft spot (quiet, you) for Drew Barrymore. In other words, this film had me at hello.

1. Mr. Brooks — Come on, it's been well over a decade since Kevin Costner and Demi Moore did anything truly noteworthy, right? Plus, Costner as a serial killer? Are you kidding me? No, actually, you're not. And rightly so. This was a taut, tense, well-acted drama, featuring maybe the most against-type role Kevin's ever taken, and it had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Even Dane Cook couldn't eff this one up.

Honorable Mention: Disturbia, The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, Ghost Rider, Meet the Robinsons, Good Luck Chuck, Bridge to Terabithia, Blades of Glory, Hot Fuzz, 30 Days of Night, Shooter

Category No. 2: The Gifts That Just Kept On Giving ...

5. (Tie) Knocked Up and Superbad — 2007 may go down in history as the year of Judd Apatow. These two risqué, raunchy, rip-roaringly hysterical send-ups to unplanned pregnancy and balls-out teenage vice ended up being quite possibly the two best-received big comedies of the year. And is there anyone out there who couldn't use a little McLovin' in their lives?

4. (Tie) The Game Plan and Enchanted — Proof, if any be needed at this point, that you don't ... bet ... against ... Disney. Say what you will about the overall quality of its products (cough cough The Pacifier cough cough), this is one of two studios (the other being Pixar) that just seems to hit the mark with audiences every single time.

3. Live Free or Die Hard — Most of the Moguls higher-ups, myself included, predicted John McClane's fourth go-round to top out at around $85 million, but the action-flick's Energizer bunny actually, unbelievably, surpassed all of its predecessors to become the highest-grossing Die Hard movie ever (at $140 million). Evidently, there's life in the old dog yet, and I, for one, couldn't be more pleased.

2. The Simpsons Movie — Remember when we all said that this film, an obvious ploy to revive a flagging series that reached its peak nearly a decade ago, would probably do middling business at best? (One word reply: "D'oh!") I mean, did anyone really think this would rake in over $180 million, and that an entire country would be idly humming the "Spider-Pig" song in its wake? Just incredible.

1. Hairspray — Apart from Wild Hogs (blech), this was definitely the biggest job of underestimation of my entire year. I mean, there was no way that a John Waters remake featuring a cross-dressing John Travolta would become a nationwide sensation, right? Hell's bells, did I miss the rocket ship to the Sun on this one.

Category No. 3: The Bigger They Are, The Harder ... It Is To Ignore Them

6. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer — I just have to throw this in here. It was inferior to most of the other summer fare in just about every way, but what can I say? It gave me absolutely everything I look for in a comic-book movie: good effects, didn't take itself too seriously, not overly complicated or emotional, a good antagonist and a cool ending. The acting? Good enough to pass muster.

5. Transformers — You know, there comes a time in every Michael Bay movie, when you feel like every synapse in your cerebral cortex has been fried into oblivion, when you just sit pack and mutter, "This is SUCH a Michael Bay movie." This was no different, but to his credit, it happened later in the film than any other film he'd ever done. Well done, Mr. Bay, try not to brain my damage so severely next time.

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End — While most feel that this trilogy-capper was overly long, confusing and scattershot, there's no denying that the climax was as enthralling as any of the summer blockbusters. For entertainment, it's always good advice to keep your eye on the Sparrow ...

3. 300 — Zack Snyder's tribute to the handful of Spartan soldiers who held off the invading Persian army (who outnumbered them by an order of magnitude) captured the essence of the comic-book graphic novel in all its glory. Galloping well over $200 million in total output, this film was exciting, heroic, and, by a wide margin, led the league in memorable catch-phrases. "This ... is ... Sparta!!!!" Damn, that still sounds hella cool.

2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix — Many critics blah-blahed that this fifth installment of the chronicles of the boy wizard was just more of the "same ol', same ol,' " but I beg to differ. The familiarity and camaraderie that we, who have followed this series since the beginning, share with the characters in this most memorable story have never been higher. Quality is quality, and one can never have too much.

1. The Bourne Ultimatum – Just another Part Three in a year just chock full of 'em, right? Nuh-uh. The continuing adrenaline-high that is Matt Damon's super spy blew me through the back wall of the theater. This, dear friends, is what James Bond should have been like ten years ago. At least Casino Royale was a step in the right direction ... but I digress. This one's in my home library now, and it will find its way into my DVD player often.

Honorable Mention: Ocean's Thirteen, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, I Am Legend, Evan Almighty

Category No. 4: May I Have The Envelope, Please?

6. (Tie) 3:10 to Yuma and Michael Clayton — I paired these up because they are, I have to believe, long shots to even be nominated for Best Picture. And that's a shame, because Crowe was superb, Bale was outstanding and Clooney was just off the charts. Who would have thought that a Western could still be nail-bitingly cool, even today? And as for Michael, well, just watching Clooney and Tom Wilkinson on the same screen was worth the price of admission.

5. No Country For Old Men — I'll be the first to admit that the Coen Brothers are not, and never have been, my cup of joe, but how can I not include this? Stark, visceral and gut-clenching, featuring maybe one of the scariest goddamn bad guys in the history of ever, and quite possibly the best performance of Tommy Lee Jones's career, including The Fugitive, for which he, you know, WON an Academy Award. What are its chances of taking away the little gold statuette? Call it ...

4. American Gangster — Denzel, Russell and Ridley. If that's not a formula for success, well, I'm in the wrong line of work, that's for sure. Criticized for its length, this amazingly-realized film about a Harlem drug lord and the team of law enforcement agents assigned to catch him never dragged. Despite its inevitable comparisons to The Departed, this film should, nay, deserves to stand on its own as an outstanding piece of cinema.

3. Charlie Wilson's War — This was a last-minute addition, since I just saw this film this week, but I couldn't not include this film. This masterful, beautiful, hilarious story, about a Texas Congressman who engineers the defeat of the Russian Army in Afghanistan, had me alternately laughing and pumping my fist in satisfaction the entire time. Julie Roberts was terrific, Philip Seymour Hoffman was Oscar-worthy, and Tom Hanks? Well, he's Tom Hanks. 'Nuff said.

2. Eastern Promises — I'm probably in the minority here, but I've never been fond of organized crime stories. I can take or leave films like Casino, Goodfellas or the entire Godfather series, and I had just about all I could take of The Sopranos after just one season. But this film, this masterpiece by director David Cronenberg, has turned me right around. Viggo Mortensen is understated, yet completely fills the screen in maybe his best performance ever, and Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel and Armin Mueller-Stahl are simply wonderful. If I were on the Academy voting board, I would pick this one to win a whole hoard of Oscars. Simply, spectacularly amazing.

And now, Shrykespeare's pick for the best film of the year:

1. Ratatouille — Considering that previous Pixar outings have ended up in my "Top 5 of the year" no less than four times in the past, it should come as no surprise that this film should end up at the pinnacle. I mean, it's Pixar, the studio who seems to get exponentially better at its craft every time out, but still never sacrifices storyline for gaudy computer tricks (you listening, Dreamworks??). This story, about an American rat who longs to become a world-class chef in the cutthroat human society that is Paris, hit all the right buttons. Funny, sad, poignant, engaging, visually stunning and completely heart-warming. And then, friggin' Peter O'Toole. My God, I may pass out from delight ... An absolute must for kids of all ages, and a shoo-in for Best Animated Feature. In a perfect world, it would be seated at Oscar's grown-ups table, but what can you do? Bring on Wall-E, and don't be late!

So that's it. Another year has come full circle, and none can be happier at this time than I ... uh, am. So what will 2008 bring to tantalize our filmic taste buds? What titles will send millions scuttling to the cineplexes, and which will leave audiences cold? Well, let's see ... three superhero films, three big-budget TV adaptations, comedies, dramas, a multitude of sequels, the latest in the Narnia, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and James Bond franchises, as well as introductions to fantastic places with cool names like Nim's Island, The Forbidden Kingdom, City of Ember, Nowhereland and a place called Spiderwick. Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey and Judd Apatow will try to tickle our funny bones again, and by the time it's over ... well, hopefully we'll all be more than just another year older.

Note: Because of the lateness of the formation of the January-March leagues, I will be extending the deadline for entry into the Super Leagues until Jan. 18. That's a Friday, and it just so happens to be the very same Friday that Cloverfield slams into theaters, so if you haven't registered by then, well, you probably wouldn't have won anyway. (JUST KIDDING!) (Or am I ... ?) (Wink.) There's still time, and plenty of room, so get your entries into me right away!

Well, that wraps it up for me for this week. Please check in again next week, when I will be returning to my usual format, chronicling the films scheduled for release on Jan. 18 and 25: Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah and Katie Cruise plot to steal themselves some Mad Money; a girl returns to re-assimilate herself into her old, seedy high-school by joining the local dance craze in Stomp the Noise, er, I mean How She Move; Hollywood's latest insufferable affront to the dignity of cinema presents itself in the form of Meet the Spartans, the latest in an ever-increasing line of horrible spoof movies; Sylvester Stallone attempts to breathe life back into his OTHER semi-legendary character, this time in Rambo; and last (but certainly not least), J.J. Abrams's shrouded-in-secrecy behemoth Cloverfield attempts to rip the lid off of January's box office records.

TTFN!

Shrykespeare doesn't REALLY think that Evan Almighty is good enough to be even just an honorable mention in any kind of year-end best-of list. He just lobbed that one in there to see if you're paying attention. Or did he? (Wink.) Agree, disagree, or threaten to resign your Fantasy Moguls membership to shrykespeare42@gmail.com.