2012 was one of the better years in film.
I have had a number of satisfying movie experiences; well a few more than recent years surely.
There were big films by big directors; nearly all my favorite directors had releases; I can count only Darren Aronofsky and Martin Scorsese who did not.
There were big films; period. Superhero films that bucked the trend of being only visual treats but focused on actually having solid plots and reasonably well defined characters.
There were a number of good horror films too; which sated my appetite.
Some of the old heads returned to acclaim and some of the new crowd proved they arent just flashes in the pan.
As is always the case the year begins slowly. In the summer you have the big money action films and late in the year the actually good films come out in a short span; all vying to win the coveted title of 'The Best Film of the Year' and releasing as late as possible to remain fresh in the memory. (In fact I plan on doing some analysis to see when the film that won Best Picture at the Oscars was released in the year of consideration)
I have decided to look at this in Four parts; four quarters in chronological order. There will definitely be films that I have not seen in each quarter; especially the films worth a mention from the later ones since they are yet to be released. That will give me time to watch these films and I intend to conclude the review with a fifth part; where I attempt to list the Top 20 films of the year; maybe not ranking them from 1 through to 20.
I will consider films which released in 2012 (Wikipedia). And no I will not consider the large number of films re-released in 3D. And I dont watch animated films so I cannot comment on those.
Two of the best films that released in 2012 were actually released in 2011 in their original countries.
Oh well; lets make a top three for the quarter.
Liam Neeson has been reinvented as a downright badass action star. He beats up people with ease these days so they decided to square him off against wolves this time. As with The Divide the atmosphere of the film; with the Arctic setting and powerful emotion and message brings life to what you would think would be a standard survival tale. It works. Was the end abrupt? I repeat; it works.
Movies that deserve a mention.
At the start of the year mostly fast paced films release. This is because the year tends to end with heavier; award-oriented dramas.
Safe House and Man on a Ledge were decent films.
Contraband - I enjoyed Contraband. Your above average heist film with Kate Beckinsale adding brownie points. (Ill mention the Fourth Underworld film here; Kate Beckinsale looks the same as she did 10 years ago; enough said)
Haywire - A strong cast with people getting beat up by a woman who would actually be able to beat them up in real life. Gina Carano makes up for a lack of acting skills with her considerable martial arts ones.
The Hunger Games and John Carter were not that bad; the former better than the latter. Mirror Mirror was more fun than both.
Silent House - A disappointing ending does not hide the hard work done to make this remake of a Uruguayan film appear to be a single; continuous shot (like the original). And if you have to watch 80 odd minutes of Elizabeth Olsen and only Elizabeth Olsen you would not complain.
Lastly Harry Potter forayed into Horror; with mixed results. The Woman in Black was OK.
Before naming the worst films of the period these are a list of films I am yet to see that I would want to.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen - critically acclaimed.
Rampart
21 Jump Street
Coriolanus - started it but seemed too weird.
Finally; the films that sucked.
The third worse film of the first quarter of 2012 is ...
How can you have Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes in a movie and still make it bad. Wrath of the Titans may not be the worst film of the first quarter but the whole idea behind it is what sickens me. In fact; i was tempted to make it THE WORST film of the quarter. Everyone looks disinterested. The plot is weak. And it makes 300 million worldwide. Sad. The original was so much fun; the first remake borderline.
The second worst film of the quarter is ...
What the devil were they thinking? Did i watch the whole film or was there a second CD? A horror ending to a film that was not even that scary. The ending was the horror frankly.
AND.
The Worst film of the first 3 months of 2012 is ...
Ghosts cant die. They should. Dreadful film.I would console myself that the worst part of the first film was Eva Mendes and this would definitely be better since it was Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor; who gave us Crank! But; inexplicably; this is worse than the original. And they are making a third film. Why?
I have had a number of satisfying movie experiences; well a few more than recent years surely.
There were big films by big directors; nearly all my favorite directors had releases; I can count only Darren Aronofsky and Martin Scorsese who did not.
There were big films; period. Superhero films that bucked the trend of being only visual treats but focused on actually having solid plots and reasonably well defined characters.
There were a number of good horror films too; which sated my appetite.
Some of the old heads returned to acclaim and some of the new crowd proved they arent just flashes in the pan.
As is always the case the year begins slowly. In the summer you have the big money action films and late in the year the actually good films come out in a short span; all vying to win the coveted title of 'The Best Film of the Year' and releasing as late as possible to remain fresh in the memory. (In fact I plan on doing some analysis to see when the film that won Best Picture at the Oscars was released in the year of consideration)
I have decided to look at this in Four parts; four quarters in chronological order. There will definitely be films that I have not seen in each quarter; especially the films worth a mention from the later ones since they are yet to be released. That will give me time to watch these films and I intend to conclude the review with a fifth part; where I attempt to list the Top 20 films of the year; maybe not ranking them from 1 through to 20.
I will consider films which released in 2012 (Wikipedia). And no I will not consider the large number of films re-released in 3D. And I dont watch animated films so I cannot comment on those.
Indonesian film Serbuan Maut; widely released in 2012 as The Raid; was the finest action film of the year for the actual hand combat. Yes there isnt much of a back story and it is basically only about a raid but it has some incredible fighting sequences that had me on the rewind button throughout.
Most of the actors involved in the film were proficient enough in the Indonesian Martial art called 'pencak silat' but the fellow who plays Mad Dog was unparalleled. You see him in the street and you wouldn't mind picking up a fight with the slightly built fellow but my word he will kick your ass. Hollywood has taken notice of the film as they have sealed the deal to a remake and want the same action choreographers. Hell if it's hand combat you may just stick in Liam Neeson in there (kidding). More recognition for Mad Dog; or maybe Hollywood just doesnt know how to end a fight involving him without shooting him.
The second film in my list might just feature in that Top 20 list I plan to make. In fact it is the only film from the first three months of the year that could. Xavier Gens' first film Frontieres was (in my humble/honest opinion) not as good as made out to be. It was ultra violent - that being its key selling point - and a very good film but people consider it one of the 4 French new-wave Horror films alongside 'Haute Tension' and the two best films of the kind 'Martyrs' and 'Inside'; and i disagree.
The Divide is something completely different. It doesnt take long for the tone of the film to settle in and as it gets more and more depraved you start to feel sick in your stomach. It is not the visuals; not primarily at least; but the depths that the characters descend to. That is definitely the effect the director wanted to have on the viewer and by god he gets it. This may be the biggest gap between the critical rating of a film and my rating in 2012. The acting is great and believable and there is time for another one of those over-sexed roles for Rosanna Arquette. Highly underrated.
Oh well; lets make a top three for the quarter.
Liam Neeson has been reinvented as a downright badass action star. He beats up people with ease these days so they decided to square him off against wolves this time. As with The Divide the atmosphere of the film; with the Arctic setting and powerful emotion and message brings life to what you would think would be a standard survival tale. It works. Was the end abrupt? I repeat; it works.
Movies that deserve a mention.
At the start of the year mostly fast paced films release. This is because the year tends to end with heavier; award-oriented dramas.
Safe House and Man on a Ledge were decent films.
Contraband - I enjoyed Contraband. Your above average heist film with Kate Beckinsale adding brownie points. (Ill mention the Fourth Underworld film here; Kate Beckinsale looks the same as she did 10 years ago; enough said)
Haywire - A strong cast with people getting beat up by a woman who would actually be able to beat them up in real life. Gina Carano makes up for a lack of acting skills with her considerable martial arts ones.
The Hunger Games and John Carter were not that bad; the former better than the latter. Mirror Mirror was more fun than both.
Silent House - A disappointing ending does not hide the hard work done to make this remake of a Uruguayan film appear to be a single; continuous shot (like the original). And if you have to watch 80 odd minutes of Elizabeth Olsen and only Elizabeth Olsen you would not complain.
Lastly Harry Potter forayed into Horror; with mixed results. The Woman in Black was OK.
Before naming the worst films of the period these are a list of films I am yet to see that I would want to.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen - critically acclaimed.
Rampart
21 Jump Street
Coriolanus - started it but seemed too weird.
Finally; the films that sucked.
The third worse film of the first quarter of 2012 is ...
How can you have Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes in a movie and still make it bad. Wrath of the Titans may not be the worst film of the first quarter but the whole idea behind it is what sickens me. In fact; i was tempted to make it THE WORST film of the quarter. Everyone looks disinterested. The plot is weak. And it makes 300 million worldwide. Sad. The original was so much fun; the first remake borderline.
The second worst film of the quarter is ...
What the devil were they thinking? Did i watch the whole film or was there a second CD? A horror ending to a film that was not even that scary. The ending was the horror frankly.
AND.
The Worst film of the first 3 months of 2012 is ...
Ghosts cant die. They should. Dreadful film.I would console myself that the worst part of the first film was Eva Mendes and this would definitely be better since it was Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor; who gave us Crank! But; inexplicably; this is worse than the original. And they are making a third film. Why?
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