Best and Worst Movies of 2012

I am once again compiling the best and worst movies I've seen in 2012. Now that we're in a new year, hopefully I continue to watch a slew of great and a ton of horrible movies as well. Granted, I've seen lots of movies that aren't on this list... but I wanted to mention the ones that stuck out most of all.

I also have individual movie reviews, if you want more in-depth opinions.

I'll best keep these as concise as possible! 

Best:

Chronicle

Basically a modern day Akira. Very convincing special effects, good (and timeless) concept, with a fresh cast. 

The Cabin in the Woods

Joss Whedon does horror? Funny, exciting, unconventional, and unexpected. 

The Avengers

Joss Whedon does superheroes? How could I avoid this movie? Great dialogue, excellent direction, great cast, using an old and traditional story line but executed well.

Prometheus

The dork in me loves this, and the original Alien film. Noomi is one badass chick. She can put up with so much.

The Dark Knight Rises

Batman. Need I say more? Oh, Bane. Oh, Catwoman. Oh, Joseph Gordon-Levitt.


Worst:

Underworld: Awakening

I like vampires. But I like Anne Rice vampires, not the new age of weakling love-triangle vampires. This just felt unnecessary and excessive. Lots of violence, not much payoff. Good brainless fun I suppose. But I expected more action. 

The Man with the Iron Fists

I feel like they're making these films just to show off. Yes, it looks cool. Yes, there's lots of violence and action and blood. But there is absolutely NO content or story.

Battleship

Remember that string of movies that came out all about alien invaders? Battle LA? Skyline? Yes, this follows around the same premise. Except there's terrible acting, and if possible I was waiting for the movie to end by around the halfway point. No one should want the action to STOP during an action film, right?

Total Recall

They don't go to Mars. That's a major plot point! It's an alright movie if you took it as a stand alone piece. But I must compare it to the original Total Recall, and it doesn't do the original justice at all. 

Resident Evil: Retribution

How many of these do they have to make? I get it. There will always be an enemy, and evil. I get it, as long as video game sales are up, they'll capitalize on these movies. But I feel like these are done to death. There's almost too much CGI and too many special effects. None of this movie looks real.

One-sentence Reviews of Recently Watched Movies

I've been pretty 'busy' lately (my excuse for being lazy and kind-of legitimately busy) so I haven't been able to put up full reviews for some of the films I've seen recently. Alas, some of them did stand out to me, so I think they warrant a few choice words!

Men in Black 3

Rating: PG-13

IMDB Rating: 7.2/10

The plot according to IMDB:

Agent J travels in time to MIB's early years in the 1960s, to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history.

One-sentence review:

Pop-culture references overwhelm this plotless ‘action-movie,’ compensating for the average acting by two actors who seem like they’ve run their course with this franchise.

The Avengers

Rating: PG-13

IMDB Rating: 8.6/10

The plot according to IMDB:

Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. brings together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki and his army.

One-sentence review:

Joss Whedon delights viewers in another witty and banter-filled action-packed and star-studded thrill… expect quirky and clever writing, intermixed with good acting.

The Amazing Spider Man

Rating: PG-13

IMDB Rating: 7.6/10

The plot according to IMDB:

Peter Parker finds a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when he was young. His path puts him on a collision course with Dr. Curt Connors, his father's former partner.

One-sentence review:

Garfield is a huge improvement over the past franchise, as a handsomer and charming replacement to Toby Maguire, bringing new life to fresher challenges and a better view into Spider-Man’s development and embrace of his powers.

The Dark Knight Rises

Rating: PG-13

IMDB Rating: 8.9/10

The plot according to IMDB:

Eight years on, a new terrorist leader, Bane, overwhelms Gotham's finest, and the Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy.

One-sentence review:

Nolan impresses once again in this darker but more realistic depiction of a vigilante hero, leaving viewers gripped whilst watching seemingly impossible action-scenes with impressive actors.

Savages

Rating: R

IMDB Rating: 6.8/10

The plot according to IMDB:

Pot growers Ben and Chon face off against the Mexican drug cartel who kidnapped their shared girlfriend.

One-sentence review:

Lively acts annoying and spoilt whilst her two good-looking mistresses seek to recover her from a surprisingly impressive Hayek, with a pretty unimpressive conclusion that leaves me wondering if they know that pot-growing and dealing is inherently dangerous.