Here in the RT office we all had our favorite films this summer. And we didn't always agree with the Tomatometer. But hey, that's what favorite means -- rhyme or reason aside, these movies spoke to us. Below, our editors share their picks!

Join in below and let us know what you think were the best and worst films of the summer season.



The Dark Knight, picked by Editor in Chief Matt Atchity


My pick for best movie of the summer? I'm going to have to go with The Dark Knight. It's not perfect; Bale's Bat-voice is a bit much after a while, and it runs perilously close to overstaying its welcome, but those (very minor) complaints aside, it's a fantastic film. As with Batman Begins, this film is as much a psychological crime drama as it is a comic book movie, and continues to take a sort of realistic look at the idea of a costumed vigilante. And if Batman Begins showed us a plausible scenario that could result in the creation of the Batman, then The Dark Knight shows us how the world would respond; the citizens of Gotham both embrace and condemn him. But if the Batman represents the extreme avatar of order amidst chaos, then it's inevitable that someone will rise to Batman's challenge. Which brings me of course to the Joker. Heath Ledger's Joker is simply the best comic book villain ever to menace the screen. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that Ledger's Joker is going to stick with us as an iconic villain, along the lines of Hannibal Lecter, Darth Vader, and Norman Bates. It's truly a tragedy that Ledger isn't with us anymore, if for no other reason than that he'll never experience the acclaim he so richly deserves.



Iron Man, picked by RT Australia Editor Joanna Cohen


I first loved Robert Downey Jr. in Less than Zero as a spoiled new romantic with deep, glassy eyes and a pastel blazer. Since 1987 I have remained devoted through every dive of his cardiac-like celebrity Tomatometer graph. Iron Man is Robert Downey Jr. and vice versa. The flawed genius, the troubled vulnerability...I adored every misogynistic, world-dominating, politically incorrect moment. He shone. And someone should give Gwyneth an award for best acting of a pencil skirt.





Gonzo, picked by Editor Sara Schieron


Telling you it inspired my summer reading list will make Alex Gibney's Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson sound a lot less hot than it is. A doc about Hunter S. Thompson, the miserable genius, self-titled "Dr." and inventor of Gonzo Journalism, Gonzo paints a crystal portrait of an era and a man that in some light looks golden and in others looks leaden. Thompson and his stories teeter between snark and melancholy, fascinating always, by page or by screen.







Mongol, picked by Community Manager Ryan Fujitani


This summer brought us several wildly entertaining blockbusters, but the one movie that got me hitting up Wikipedia and updating my "countries to visit" list was Mongol, a moderately successful indie biopic chronicling the life and times of Genghis Khan. It may have had something to do with my fascination for ancient cultures and fallen empires, but Mongol grabbed me from the start and wrapped me up in its epic story until the credits rolled. While the movie isn't without its problems (questionable editing choices, a somewhat abrupt ending), the cinematography was appropriately gorgeous, the action was visceral and cathartic, and Mr. Khan himself was fascinating to watch. Oh, and it inspired me to grow a beard and move every three months.




Pineapple Express, picked by Editor Alex Vo


The Dark Knight's better-crafted, and WALL-E got me a little teary, but I haven't had as much plain ol' movie fun all year than watching Pineapple Express the first two times. (Yeah, here's that rare movie that's beckoned me back to the theater multiple times.) The movie's alternately breezy and intense, while director David Gordon Green's loving care towards fringe characters makes Pineapple Express feel earthy and organic, a rarity for so-called stoner flicks.






Wall-E, picked by Senior Editor Tim Ryan


Is WALL-E more poignant than City Lights? Is it a more potent allegory than Metropolis? Is it as powerful a reflection on what it is to be a cognizant being than 2001? Time will tell if Pixar's latest marvel is mentioned alongside those classics in the cinematic canon, but let the debate begin here. Achingly romantic, darkly funny, and blessed with some of the most remarkable visuals ever committed to celluloid, WALL-E is one for the ages -- and great summer fun to boot.





Speed Racer, picked by Senior Editor Jen Yamato


This particular pick is bound to stir some controversy (bring it on, haters!), but so be it: Speed Racer was my favorite summer flick of 2008. Inventive, innovative, intriguing, spectacular -- the Wachowski brothers' live-action, anime-based adventure is everything I hoped it would be, and more. It's a "kid flick" I'd have enjoyed as much as a tyke as I do today, a film that transcends the medium as we've known it, bursting through traditional boundaries of moviemaking to create an entirely absorbing, eye-popping, immersive alternate reality. It is the movie equivalent of mixing Coca Cola and Pop Rocks. Or like BeDazzling your cerebral cortex. Which would be awesome, were it only possible...