1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure - Dir. Peter Jackson
The Hobbit is a well deserved second chance at visiting Middle Earth for Peter Jackson. This is where he really gets to share his mutual love of this fantasy world with all of us & regardless of all the negative reviews I've heard lately about the Hobbit from bloggers or soon to be bloggers (who apparently can't just sit back and enjoy themselves while watching movies anymore), I enjoyed every second of this film.
The only problem in my view is his desire to change things to a heightened frame rate. I saw it in 48/fps and in the traditional 24. I didn't like the 48 as it rendered a very video look to it that was uncomfortable for me. But let's get this straight... this in no way reflects on the movie badly. The movie by itself without the 48 is a masterful film, full of Middle Earth goodness and all the great beats of Tolkien's classic stories is there... redemption, sacrifice, humility, the simple things in life and all of the evil forces pitted against Middle Earth as well.
I found it difficult after watching this film, to listen to reviewers say they didn't like the added reminders of The Lord of the Rings in this film. What? Are you serious? It made it so much better, it added to the story and the context of the film, and it was super fun to watch! Believe me, I know the book, but I know this is a film... And I am so grateful that we will be getting even MORE of a good thing in all three of these films! Peter Jackson proves he can make every single frame of his movie sing with a deep beautiful ancient Dwarven melody. I loved it and had to watch it more than once. Maybe some people just don't enjoy spending time in Middle Earth, but that's the most they can rightly say against this film.
2. The Avengers - Dir. Joss Wedon
I absolutely loved this film! I was a close contender for first place this year! Considering the great challenges just to make this film I was so blown away by the final product! It is now, in my view the very BEST superhero film ever made!
3. Django Unchained - Dir. Quentin Tarantino
One of his best works, although I am still partial to Kill Bill myself. There is a deep, subversive, exploitation goodness to this film. Unless you can really understand & enjoy subversive films I do not recommend this to you. But I have heard from a lot of people that their politics can't seem to let them enjoy this film. My view on that is if it won't let you, you have been way too political in your life and it is time to learn to just sit down and enjoy a film for what it is, instead of what your ideology says it is 'supposed to be'. So, are you okay with banning Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn because the 'N' word is in them? Sorry, you should not watch this movie.
4. Prometheus - Dir. Ridley Scott
I must, again, differ with reviewers on this one. Reviewers often get it in their heads as to what a film is 'supposed to be' just like 'political types' do. This movie did not give them what they wanted on a silver platter. But, if you just enjoy being in this sci-fi universe Ridley created, understanding where he came from with Alien, etc, this is a great offering to supplement that same universe.
No, it does not give a lot of answers. Since when was that a requirement of good storytelling? Quite the opposite. He did not make all of his crew intelligent or perfect in their actions or motivations. Since when has THAT been a requirement as well?
In fact, if we go into the horror genre itself, we see that characters are RARELY doing the 'intelligent thing'! Horror films are basically Greek tragedies. Hence, the huge mistakes they make, to create even larger problems which climaxes into a ridiculous, huge problem for everyone. These days we rarely even get a hero to save us in the end of our modern Greek tragedies. This is just normal in these stories in order to make the point they are wanting to make to the audience.
I am, also, a major lover of Production Design as a large element of what makes up a great film because I love very original, world building films. This movie is a beautiful work of art in its design, its sets, its costumes, etc. The world it creates is masterfully fantastical and gorgeous! That counts for something in my book and it SHOULD count for a lot more in other people's books as well.
5. Looper - Dir. Rian Johnson
Another masterful sci-fi this year. This film finds an amazing balance between story, character & setting to give one of the blow away performances of the year! Some really nice anime inspired scenes in the third act to throw us for a looper... errr a loop.
6. Skyfall - Dir. Sam Mendes
For a James Bond film to be one of the best of the year has been unheard of for more than two decades, excepting only 'Casino Royale' in my opinion. This film has the classy Bond feel along with new, exotic locations and regardless of what people say about the story ending flat I have to disagree. The ending set piece at the Skyfall Estate will prove to be one of the most memorable and seminal sequences in James Bond history! A must see for any Bond or Bourne fans out there!
7. Chronicle - Dir. Josh Trank
I struggled a lot with this film because I wanted to put it higher on the list. It has a special place for me as a new kind of superhero film. The acting wasn't perfect but pretty solid. The found footage element of the film was extremely well thought out and very well executed. I hated the last scene of the film where he flies to Nepal. Quite silly. There were a few of these kinds of cheesy moments that seemed out of place but for all the things that were amazing about this film, it makes up for these issues in spades!
8. Moonrise Kingdom - Dir. Wes Anderson
This was another film I struggled to put at the top of this list and I have a very special place in my heart for Wes' films. This one proves to be his best work in my opinion. Full of heart, creativity, quirk, and quaint romanticism. Loved it!
9. The Dark Knight Rises - Dir. Chris Nolan
I expected more of Chris Nolan this year with this film. It has huge plot holes. Unrealistic action. Grandiose gestures that mean almost nothing. But despite all of this it proves to be an enigmatic masterpiece of superhero angst that threatens to rewrite the Bruce Wayne legacy... And no one seems to mind in the slightest because we all had so much fun watching it!
10. The Invisible War - Dir. Kirby Dick
Now we have to bring it down a bit. This film just might change your life. I could save it or end it. If you are a woman and you are considering entering into military service YOU MUST WATCH THIS FILM FIRST! This film blew me into little bitty pieces on the floor and told me I was a dirty, bad and disgusting person. I did not enjoy watching this film and this is exactly WHY this film is important and needs to be seen by everyone. Period.
11. Raid: Redemption - Dir. Gareth Evans
A must watch for anyone who likes action or martial arts films! This guys almost redefine the action/fighting film with new ideas that could terrorize you in your sleep! Not that this is a horror film... But it IS a holy terror to those who feel they've seen everything that action or martial arts films have to offer. I enjoyed it, but there is not much character development or character arc in this movie... it is all crazy action!
12. Cabin in the Woods - Dir. Drew Goddard
Speaking of horror... (LOL) this is a must watch for any horror lover out there! This film may just ruin every experience with your favorite horror flicks for all time. Why is horror what it is? Why do characters in horror always do the WRONG thing? Why do horror lovers love horror? This movie might just answer all of these questions in a way you never thought could be answered... and do it with a smile.
Honorable Mention:
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Seven Psychopaths
Perks of Being a Wallflower
Compliance
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
End of Watch
Jack Reacher
Dredd
The Watch
The Grey
There were, no doubt, some films that could have stolen the top positions here on my list if ONLY I had actually watched them!
Movies I Should Have Seen Already from 2012 (But Didn't):
West of Memphis
Yelling to the Sky
Rust & Bone
Killer Joe
I might amend this list once I see these films... Speaking of which, the best of from last year (2011) could also be amended by now since most of the films I never got to see on that list I have actually seen now. We will see if I have time to update that post. Happy watching and see ya next year for the top 13 of 2013!
Update on 8/14/13: Many of the films I had not seen before have now been viewed and many of them I am sorry to say, do actually affect the results of my top twelve list. Also, some of the films on my list, I must admit, given the benefit of time, have soured on me. The current list is...
1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure
2. The Avengers
3. Life of Pi
4. Moonrise Kingdom
5. Les Miserables
6. Looper
7. Skyfall
8. The Dark Knight Rises
9. Prometheus
10. Chronicle
11. Cabin in the Woods
12. Silver Linings Playbook
Honorable Mention:
Django Unchained
The Invisible War
Raid: Redemption
Holy Motors
The Impossible
Zero Dark Thirty
Killing Them Softly
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Seven Psychopaths
Perks of Being a Wallflower
Compliance
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
End of Watch
Jack Reacher
Dredd
The Watch
The Grey
Seven Psychopaths
Perks of Being a Wallflower
Compliance
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
End of Watch
Jack Reacher
Dredd
The Watch
The Grey
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