Here we are at number eight in our countdown we look at what happens when British film gets it right and how Fantastic Four has been unable to rival other Marvel comic adaptations.

No8 The Best: Atonement
If you want to see a great piece of cinema this year then you need look no further than our very own Joe Wright who has brought us the Oscar worthy Atonement.It's difficult to believe that this is only Wright's second feature film, after Pride and Prejudice, as his attention to the period and the performance he commands from his cast make him seem like a veteran movie-maker.Along with his screenwriter Christopher Hampton, Wright has produced a faithful and literary adaptation of Ian McEwan's popular novel. It's 1935 and the hottest day of the summer. Thirteen year old Briony Tallis, an aspiring writer with a wild imagination, is fascinated by the behaviour of the adults around her, despite not understanding what they are doing.

She witnesses two strange encounters between her older sister Cecilia and Robbie, a family friend and son of the cook.

She believes, after reading a letter from Robbie to Cecilia, that Robbie is a dangerous, sex crazed individual. When she walks in on Robbie and Cecilia making love in the library, which she believes to be an attack on her sister, her suspicions about Robbie are confirmed.

Later that night their cousin Lola is raped in the grounds of their house and Briony accuses Robbie of the crime.

The three main character's lives pivot on this one event: Robbie is sent to prison before going to fight for his country in the Second World War, Cecilia leaves her family behind and becomes a nurse in blitz London, and Briony spends her whole life attempting to atone for her mistake.

But this film belongs to the cast. Keira Knightley finally leaves behind girl roles staking her claim as a serious adult actress.

But it's James McAvoy who stands out as Robbie, following up his outstanding performance in The Last Ling of Scotland, and his days in Shameless seem long ago as he is quickly becoming one of this country's best leading men.

There are also great breakthrough performances from Saoirse Ronan and Romola Garai, who both play Briony Tallis.

Atonement is part love story part war movie as Wright captures the horrors of Dunkirk with some beautiful cinematography.

With Joe Wright at the helm Atonement has been one of the best British movies of 2007 and should do well come awards season.

No8 The Worst: Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

The Fantastic Four, in particular Reed Richards (Gruffudd) and Susan Storm (Alba) are having problems balancing their professional and personal lives. Reed and Sue can't get married without causing a media circus or a global crisis arising.

On the day that they plan to tie the proverbial knot the ceremony is interrupted by an unwelcome visitor in the form of the Silver Surfer, who is riding around the planet causing a wave of chaos making water solidify in Japan an snow fall in Egypt.

But the surfer is the least of the team’s problems as Galactus, The Devourer of Worlds is heading straight for earth with only destruction in mind.

As the help of the Fantastic Four is enlisted to capture the Silver Surfer the team come face to face with an old foe... Victor Von Doom.

The main problem that I had with this film's predecessor was it took so long explaining how these four normal people acquired their powers that it left very little time for the action that was expected.

But despite poor reviews first time around Gruffard, Alba, Evans and Chiklis are back for another stab at this latest Marvel franchise.

The real issue here is director Tim Story and screenwriters Dan Payne and Mark Frost have made two movies that are a lighthearted bit of fun.

While it is a vast improvement on the first film it is still no rival to the crown jewels of Marvel movies X-Men and Spiderman.

The characters and the plot are dumbed down for a child audience instead of aiming it at the Marvel Comic fans.

The characters are boring none are battling with inner demons like Jean Gray, Wolverine of Spiderman and the film doesn't take full advantage of the CGI technology that is available.

However the character of the Silver Surfer, voiced by Laurence Fishbourne and the physicality of Doug Jones, is visually stunning.

Unfortunately Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer limps along, lasting only 90 minutes, and the finale is a hiccup rather than a big bang.

Helen Earnshaw