#11 “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance”
Usually when a movie comes up last on my
theatrical rankings, it’s not because it’s bad … I just liked it less then
everything else I saw. Well, that is not the case with “Spirit of Vengeance”
… this was the closest I came to walking out of the cinema in a while. Not only
was this a pointless sequel, but it’s also a completely brainless film that
suffers from stupid villains, uninteresting characters, hammy performances, a
rushed plot, ugly landscape, and a very annoyingly shaky camera. It’s
definitely one of my least favorite movies to come from Marvel, because it offers
nothing special in its long run time.
#10 “Men in Black 3”
I’ve
always had fondness for “Men in Black”, but really haven’t been asking
for any more sequels. While this third film didn’t exactly surpass my
expectations, this was never the less a welcomed addition to the series. This
time it’s less about aliens and more about time-travel, which is certainly
different. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are always a welcomed pairing, but
this sequel as another surprise ace up its sleeve in the form of Josh Brolin …
who basically steals the show, and makes this sequel worthwhile.
#9 “Brave”
This was the first original Pixar movie in years that
really seemed to be taking the studio into new territory. Admittedly, the
execution was far from great, but it’s not without some merit, and despite all
its shortcomings, it's a film that fits quiet comfortably in my wheelhouse of
mystical fantasy. The lead princess is also a winning main character, with an
awesome design, but it’s also a double edge sword, as she’s better than the
movie as a whole. Still, there’s a lot to love, as the animation is stellar,
the mystical atmosphere is effective, the music is really nice, and I do like
the set-world of this movie … I just wish the plot was more interesting.
I don’t usually go into Christmas movies expecting action and adventure, but this was a welcome change-up, as all the classic holiday characters set-out Avenger’s style. The animation once again is terrific, with awe-inspiring worlds to explore, and the character designs are as unique as they get. However, while there’s certainly wonders to experience, it doesn’t possess quiet the same magic I like returning to in my holiday pictures. Still, I love when DreamWorks breaks out from their usual format, and delivered a worthwhile fantasy adventure.
#7 “The Amazing Spider-Man”
The original 2002 “Spider-Man”
can certainly be looked back on as something special, a movie that got the ball
rolling for further comic book adaptions, and has held up as something of a
small classic in its own right. 2012’s “The Amazing Spider-Man” came,
excited me for a little, but doesn’t feel like it has any real staying power.
Yet, even with that said, it still has select details and highlights that are
superior to the original, and I'll certainly enjoy watching this one again
sometime. It may be a little short of “amazing”, but it’s perfectly okay, and
for a comic book fan like me ... I’ll take it.
In many respects, “Wrek-it-Ralph”
is this generations “Who Framed Rodger Rabbit”, featuring an original
world where famous video game characters all come together, while all the focus
is on lovable new characters, and their journey. The comedy is great, the video
game worlds made me feel like a kid again, and the animation is top notch.
Needless to say, I love when Disney can deliver a solid animated offering
without relying on their winning fantasy formula. It’s been a while sense I
liked an animated Disney picture more than a Pixar offering … but this was it.
#5 “Skyfall”
Daniel Craig hits it out of the park again with
another smart, character driven, action thriller. The plot is less of a spy flick,
and more of a redemption story, as Bond battles a former agent seeking revenge.
Along the way, Judi Dench is given a layered story arc, as she deals with this
rouge. Throw in some lavish locations, a slick direction, dazzling set pieces,
subtle nods to classic Bond outings, a catchy theme song, and an exciting cat
and mouse climax, it’s enough to make “Skyfall” a winning entry in the
series, and one that 007 fans can be very pleased with.
#4 “Les Miserables”
As far back as I can remember, “Les Misérables” was the very first stage musical I feel in love with at a young age, and for years I’ve been waiting for it to receive the theatrical treatment. While there were movies based on the source material throughout the years, this 2012 picture marked the first time it was brought to life in musical form on the silver-screen ... and it didn’t disappoint in the final result. I found the cast mostly spot-on in representing these iconic stage characters, and they each brought the right level of humanity and heavy emotions to their respected roles. For me, it was just a satisfying dream come true, to finally see my favorite Broadway musical brought to life in film form … hopefully it won’t be too much longer for “Wicked” to receive the same treatment.
#3 “ParaNorman”
This is one of the scarier animated movies to show your kids, but it’s an incredible motion picture that I highly recommend. “ParaNorman” takes the familiar concepts of a boy with a supernatural ability to talk to the dead, a witch’s curse, a zombie epidemic, and weaves them all together in a brilliant story with surprising emotional depth, deep conflicts, and plenty of comedy along the way. The visual effects and stop-motion animation are big spectacles, which alone make the film worth viewing, but with an enduring lead character, an especially heartwarming ending and competent storytelling make this something really special. Truthfully, I feel this film deserves to be called a modern Halloween classic.
Following after the high that was 2008’s “The Dark Knight”, I was beyond stoked to see how Director Christopher Nolen would conclude his masterful series of Batman films. With an awesome ensemble, including some memorable villains, high stakes, and some of Batman’s most epic action sequences put to screen yet … this third instalment delivered. While some plot details could have been touched up on, Batman's closing arc is still strong and “Rises” is without a doubt a powerful, action packed, and poignant finale to this epic superhero trilogy.
#1 “The Avengers”
Back when I was a little kid, I fantasized
what a live-action crossover with multiple superheroes would be like, but I
never imagined in my wildest years that I’d not only see one on the big screen
… but that it would also be this good. Outside of the stellar novelty of having
a number of Marvels greatest hero’s sharing a movie together, it’s a very
competent film, finding that perfect balance between huge, explosive action
scenes, subtle character depth and a fun sense of hummer. It lives up to its hype
and stands as solid Marvel entertainment.
So,
concludes 2012 … and may the thrill of the theater stick-around next year.
