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The year-that-was offered film fans a plethora of noble protagonists and sinister miscreants to cheer and jeer. Familiar heroes such as Indiana Jones and James Bond returned to the silver screen, while actor Heath Ledger's Oscar-worthy portrayal made The Joker the most memorable villain of the past decade.

Here are the characters who gained our admiration and provoked our ire in 2008, chosen by Weekly film critic Tyler Hanley.

HEROES

Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway), "Get Smart" She helped compensate for her awkward partner's clumsiness with enviable courage and flexibility.

Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster), "Nim's Island" The agoraphobic author conquered her own anxiety and crossed continents to help a distressed young girl on an isolated island.

Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), "Milk" Threats, degradation and prejudice couldn't deter this inspirational San Francisco supervisor from pursuing his goal: equality.

Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" The whip-smart adventurer battered down the age barrier and helped quash a Soviet power grab with extraterrestrial repercussions.

Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), "Slumdog Millionaire" This quiet hero persevered through the slums of Mumbai and game-show torture to reunite with his lifelong love.

James Bond (Daniel Craig), "Quantum of Solace" Britain's shaken-not-stirred super spy defied gravity and his superiors to dismantle a greedy criminal syndicate.

Rhino (voice of Mark Walton), "Bolt" This lion-hearted hamster was a steadfast companion and demonstrated boundless courage from the confines of a plastic ball.

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), "Iron Man" Empathy and steely resolve transformed this arrogant playboy into a selfless, high-flying hero.

WALL-E (voice of Ben Burtt), "WALL-E" This lonely little robot of very few words embarked on a deep-space love quest and saved humanity in the process.

Zohan Dvir (Adam Sandler), "You Don't Mess with the Zohan" Who says a hairdresser can't be heroic? This Israeli freedom fighter took on sinister goons and split ends.


VILLAINS

Anita Bryant (herself), "Milk" Anyone who adamantly encourages bigotry and persecution in the name of God deserves a placeholder on the villains list.

Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), "The Incredible Hulk" After this blood-thirsty mercenary mutated into the monstrous Abomination, only the Hulk could end its violent rampage.

General Friedrich Fromm (Tom Wilkinson), "Valkyrie" Akin to an unfaithful husband, this treacherous Nazi feigned loyalty to the German Resistance. His indecision cost lives.

Harry Waters (Ralph Fiennes), "In Bruges" Violence and intimidation were the only answers for this temper-challenged crime boss who literally threw friendship aside.

Les Grossman (Tom Cruise), "Tropic Thunder" The foul-mouthed, out-of-shape producer emphatically (and hilariously) put profit and publicity above the wellbeing of an actor held hostage.

Prince Nuada (Luke Goss), "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" This pale, sword-wielding warrior wanted nothing less than complete extinction of the human race.

Sloan (Morgan Freeman), "Wanted" An unscrupulous leader who manipulated the assassins in his charge to kill under the guise of "noble cause."

Tai Lung (voice of Ian McShane), "Kung Fu Panda" A prison guarded by rhinos couldn't contain this snap-kicking snow leopard and his lust for power.

The Joker (Heath Ledger), "The Dark Knight" Ledger's final performance turned this classic Batman villain into a maniacal, tortured cinematic icon for the ages.

Warden Hennessey (Joan Allen), "Death Race" She framed an innocent man for murder and locked him away in a brutal prison, all for the sake of blood-soaked "entertainment."

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