There's no getting around it: 2012 was an enormous year for movies. Some franchises ended while some started anew, and some features became blockbusters while others tanked. Superheroes, spies, archers and hobbits all made a dent in the box office, but even among the smaller films there were some gems. I've only seen a fraction of what 2012 had to offer, but of the films I have seen I've decided to rank them in descending order, from worst to best.
31. Taken 2- The first Taken was a surprising, tense action thriller that proved Liam Neeson was an action star. Its sequel showed none of what made the first film so fun, simple and thrilling. Horrid action, even more horrid editing, stupid decisions by its main characters, and an attempt to subvert the first film with a cliche revenge scheme all add up to one completely unnecessary sequel.
30. The Three Stooges- A decent enough comedy that faithfully recreates the Stooges' antics, but unfortunately falls flat with uninspired jokes and a cop out of an ending.
29. Hotel Transylvania- Once great horror monsters are given cardboard personalities and drained of all their scariness in this hyperactive kids flick made only for ADD raddled youngsters. A cliche story about letting your children go doesn't help the proceedings.
28. The Lorax- While I did enjoy the character arc given to the Once-Ler in a flashback that takes up half the film, this expansion of the Dr. Seuss story tries too hard to shove an environmental message down children's throats while literally sugarcoating it to make it bearable.
27. The Dictator- Sacha Baren Cohen's new character is a great parody of Middle Eastern dictators, and the plot does show promise, but the jokes that are actually funny are few and far between. Too much physical humor and not enough political satire, which is what I thought they were aiming for.
26. Premium Rush- Joseph-Gordon Levitt is fantastic as a daredevil bike messenger, but while the action and pacing are fast the story just doesn't hold together. Too many flashbacks to help explain the plot muddle what could have been a tightly paced film about the cat-and-mouse game between a bike messenger and a dirty cop.
25. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter- What should have been the premise for a cheesy sci-fi B movie is played straight, and the fact that we're supposed to take this seriously only makes things worse. The film is great for a laugh, but not much else.
24. Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos-This film, which is set in the continuity of the Brotherhood anime, was given a limited theatrical run and I only saw it once it hit DVD. As a fan of FMA it was enjoyable, but the film is a standalone narrative that doesn't impact the series storyline at all, and the story it does have gets needlessly complicated. It's a fun anime adventure for FMA completists, but you won't get much out of it if you're not already a fan.
23. Prometheus- This was supposed to be the epic, hard sci-fi film of the year, the one that would set the Alien franchise back on track. I liked it at first, and the production design is still amazing, as is Michael Fassbender's performance as David. But the sheer stupidity of the scientists, the lack of answers to any of the questions raised, and the shoehorning of elements to tie into the first Alien film make this one of the year's biggest dissapointments.
22. John Carter- The first film I saw in 2012 was one I really enjoyed when watching. Time has made me see that the movie does have flaws, mostly to do with the execution of the plot. Still, this is a faithful rendering of Edgar Rice Burrough's Barsoom series and has great performances from Willem Dafoe and Lynn Collins. The marketing can be blamed for its box office failure, but I see this becoming a cult hit down the road.
21. Men in Black 3- For a sequel that didn't need to happen, it was surprising how much I enjoyed it. Props to Josh Brolin for his spot on Tommy Lee Jones impression, and Will Smith is charismatic as always.
20. Ted- Seth McFarlane's live action directorial debut is everything I expected from the creator of Family Guy. Some of the humor goes a little too far, but the chemistry between Mark Walberg and the CGI teddy bear is great and the overall film has no short of laughs and genuine heart.
19. Lawless- Tom Hardy and Guy Pearce are great in this film about moonshiners in the Prohibition-era South. An effective historical drama that even gives Shia Labeouf a decent performance.
18. 21 Jump Street- Another film that surprised me, 21 Jump Street was one of the funniest films I'd seen in years. It's so self-conscious I couldn't stop laughing while admiring its genius. High school films, cop films and even remakes themselves are all sent up, and Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill make for an effective comedic duo.
17. Chronicle- I don't care much for the found footage genre, but Chronicle is different because it doesn't focus so much on the camera gimmick as it does on the development of the characters, especially lonely Andrew as his newfound telekinesis turns him into a straight up supervillain. A powerful ending and a well executed premise make this one of the more creative entries in the superhero genre.
16. Dredd- Karl Urban is the Law. Deal with it. Urban embodies the futuristic cop from the comics a million times better than Stallone, and while the plot is a little too simple it's effective in showing off what Dredd can do. A dark and gritty reboot that gets the material right and delivers an intense action film.
15. The Hunger Games- Jennifer Lawrence is the perfect Katniss Everdeen in a film that wonderfully portrays the brutality of the world of Suzanne Collins' novels. Aside from some issues with the camerawork (too shaky) and a few subtractions from the plot, this was an entertaining and thrilling adaptation of the first novel in the trilogy.
14. Brave- Pixar's first female hero is a treat to watch on screen, as Princess Merida's fiery hair, rebellious personality and fierce Scottish brogue make her stand out from all the other Disney heroines. Her story, however, is just rehashed from every other fairy tale out there. It's a perfectly decent kids flick, but I was expecting a lot more from Pixar in their first real foray into fantasy.
13. The Amazing Spider-Man- Of the big three hero films this year, it's sad to say my personal favorite comic book character gets the weakest of the three films. It's not that it wasn't good: I thoroughly enjoyed it, specifically the action, performances and the new interpretation of the Spidey mythos. But while Avengers was an epic crossover spectacle and Dark Knight Rises the culmination of a trilogy, this was a rehash of a beloved film from 10 years ago. I still love it, but reflecting on it now I do kinda wish it did something more original for its first half.
12. Wreck-It Ralph- My favorite animated film of 2012, this one surprised me with its cast of well rounded characters, unique world building and a solid premise that made me care about the virtual heroes and their fates. You don't have to be a video game fan to appreciate it, but recognizing all the nods and cameos to fan-favorite games definitely increases the enjoyment.
11. The Cabin in the Woods- This one almost made it into my top ten, but even though it didn't it doesn't change the fact that this is a daring film. In a lot of ways it's really ambitious. It's part horror, part comedy, part satire and even partially apocalyptic. But its very premise is so brilliant in that it allows for the complete upending of every horror cliche you can think of. It's well-made, well acted and just fun to watch.
10. Life of Pi- It had a stupid title and was about an Indian boy surviving a ship wreck with a tiger. So why did I enjoy it so much? The visuals were stunning, the story simple yet inspiring and the character of Pi fascinating to watch, especially his interactions with said tiger. The film has a profound moral about perception, overcoming the odds, and the power of belief, and in many ways it was film-making at its finest.
9. Skyfall- It's not Casino Royale, but this Bond flick is miles better than Quantum of Solace, and in many ways represents why Bond has stood the test of time for 50 years. It's a little slow at times and the plot takes one too many cues from Chris Nolan, but Daniel Craig still makes for the best Bond since Connery, and the deliciously meta plot transitions the rookie we saw in Casino and Quantum into the womanizing, ass kicking secret agent we've known since the '60s. Well done, James.
8. Cloud Atlas- In many ways this film has problems, but none of them alter the fact that this is one of the most ambitious films I've seen in a long time. The narrative weaves six separate time periods into an overarching story about how human beings overcome adversity through the ages, and how love and compassion can affect others even decades into the future. Props to the star-studded cast, including Tom Hanks and Hugo Weaving, for playing multiple characters across racial and gender boundaries. Intelligent and heartfelt, with a little something for everyone, Cloud Atlas isn't a film so much as an experience.
7. Les Miserables- I don't usually go for musicals, but I'm glad I made an exception for this one. Based on the hit Broadway play that was in turn based on the classic novel, "Les Mis" boasts amazing performances from Hugh Jackman and Russel Crowe. But the real star is Anne Hathaway, who nearly had me in tears when she sang "I Dreamed A Dream." The production design is amazing and really brings post-Revolution France to life. The third act doesn't really live up to the first two, dragging with too many characters that detract from Jackman's Jean Valjean, but the songs are still memorable and the overall film is a wonder.
6. The Dark Knight Rises- I've thought about this film more than any other this year, and have had time to analyze all its strengths and faults. But while I could count on all ten fingers the plot holes that exist, Nolan's ambition and sheer knack for movie-making made this third Batman flick an amazing ride. Batman got the film trilogy he needed and deserved, and on the whole I couldn't be more satisfied with how Nolan chose to end Bruce Wayne's story.
5. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey- To say I was hyping this up is an understatement. Lord of the Rings was one of the biggest filmmaking achievements of the past decade, and to see Peter Jackson return to the sandbox with the Hobbit was a dream come true. I enjoyed every minute of this film. Yes, it drags a little at the beginning, and yes, I still doubt whether there's enough material for a trilogy, even with more Tolkien elements. But Jackson brought me back to Middle-Earth, and seeing the brilliant Martin Freeman's Bilbo Baggins talk with Ian Mckellan's Gandalf and play riddle games with Gollum while battling trolls and orcs alongside those awesome dwarves made me beyond happy. Come what may, I'm pumped for the next two films.
4. Argo- This was a film I had no intention of seeing that I ended up enjoying far more than I expected to. Detailing the CIA's attempt to create a fake film to forge convincing covers for trapped Americans during the Iranian Hostage Crisis, this had history, real humor, heart pumping suspense, developed characters, and even a little love for the magic of filmmaking. Argo was, quite simply, a fantastic film that kept me hooked from beginning to end.
3. Looper- Now this is what I expect from a science fiction movie. Looper is that rare blend of smart story, great action and pitch perfect characters that makes for not just an awesome sci-fi thriller but a great film in general. The time travel is handled so well, but what's great is that it doesn't dominate the story and merely serves as a backdrop to develop the characters. Joseph-Gordon Levitt is becoming one of my favorite actors, and his role here is nothing short of amazing.
2. Django Unchained- Classic Tarantino. That's what I was expecting and that's what I got. Christoph Waltz, Leo Dicaprio and Sam Jackson all pull off spectacular performances in this very gory western about slavery, but Jamie Foxx's freed slave Django and his relation to Waltz's bounty hunter King Schulze really sell the film. Dicaprio is ruthless as a southern slaveowner, as is Jackson as Leo's main servant. The dialogue crackles, the tension rises and the shootouts are breathtaking. It's Tarantino at his finest.
1. The Avengers- There are many who would disagree with me on this, especially as there are other films on this list that seem more deserving, but I believe Avengers is my favorite 2012 film mainly for one reason: rewatchability. I've seen this spectacle in theaters four times, and I've lost count how many times I've watched it or paused it or replayed it since buying it. Maybe part of it is seeing four years of hype pay off in the largest and best way possible. Maybe it's fulfilling a sort of childhood fantasy of all these heroes teaming up. But I honestly think it's just recognizing what makes both comics and movies work and how they can combine into something that's just pure entertainment. Who cares about the plot holes? In terms of sheer enjoyment, there's no other film in 2012 that was more fun to watch, and isn't that ultimately what we go to the movies for anyway?
There were other films I wanted to watch but never got around to seeing. Lincoln. Moonrise Kingdom. The Raid: Redemption. Snow White and the Huntsman. Hell, I even wanted to see Battleship at one point just to see how bad it was. But the films I did see all offered something unique, with quite a few surprises. 2012 was a great year for film, and I hope 2013 is even greater.
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