When I go to the movies, it is an escape from reality. I know I'll never be an artifact collector like Indiana Jones, or rescuing my city like Batman; but when I go to the movies, I get to enter a world where that can happen, where there are no limits on creativity. This year, I've escaped reality to see 58 films, a few I got to see more than once. I got free passes to see a few movies early, I got to use my MVP card to see a few movies for free, but most of them I paid for and I estimate I paid around $600 seeing movies this year. My goal was 50 and I got to 58. I didn't go to the movies just to see how many I can get to this year, I went to see 58 different movies because I was actually interested in seeing them. But without further adieu, let's get started with my 2012 Movie Theater Experience.
Just a friendly reminder, these are my opinions on the movies I saw. Everyone else may have different opinions and I respect that. But I am not going into a lengthy review of each movie, I will just say how I felt about them and whether I suggest them or not. Thanks and here is the LIST. (:
THE LIST
1. Contraband, 1/12/12 at Midnight - This was my first movie of the year, obviously. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It's your typical Mark Wahlberg action flicks where he delivers great one-liners and kicks some butt. January is usually a month where there are no huge blockbusters and this movie isn't one, but it is decent. Wahlberg does vintage Wahlberg. I say this movie is definitely worth a rental or Netflix viewing. I give it a B-.
2. Haywire, 1/20/12 at 5:15 p.m. - The thing about Haywire is that it doesn't have that much dialogue and the story was very cliché. This movie had a huge cast, a lot of big names, but there wasn't that much dialogue. But the thing about this movie is to showcase the stunts and fighting skills of Gina Carano, who was the lead role. She is a MMA fighter and the whole movie you get to see her kick butt, including Channing Tatum's. Overall it was a Taken sort of feel, but it's not horrible. Worth a rental or Netflix viewing. I give it a C+.
3. Man on a Ledge, 1/26/12 at Midnight -This movie was very entertaining, but no where close to realistic at all. It's the type of movie where millions of things have to happen for everything to work. But I cannot lie, this movie was interesting. Most of the movie is Sam Worthington on the ledge telling stories to a negotiator played by Elizabeth Banks while other things are happening in the background. It was a fun action film, but that's it. Nothing more. It's worth a rental or Netflix viewing. I give it a C. Just an average film.
4. The Grey, 1/27/12 at 7:40 p.m. - This movie was very slow, and I knew it would be going into it. But it is Liam Neeson, so you gotta give it the benefit of the doubt. I thought this was a good movie, but I think the trailer was misleading. I thought it was Liam vs Wolves, but there is a lot more to than just that. This movie had a great plane crash sequence, really intense. This is a very slow movie, but it does grab your attention at points. It has a very questionable ending, but of course that is up to your own judgment. Worth a rental or Netflix viewing. I give it a C+.
5. Chronicle, 2/2/12 at Midnight - Now we are into February and this movie was a huge surprise. I didn't expect much from this movie given it was a found footage film (Cloverfield, Blair Witch). But it was so interesting and entertaining. The first half of the movie, you interested in what these group of kids are going to do with their new powers, then the entertainment comes when one of them loses control and goes crazy. This movie is awesome and has great special effects and after viewing you will be impressed. Would be a great addition to your Blu-Ray or DVD Collection. I give it a B.
6. Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace 3D, 2/9/12 at Midnight - This movie is the first installment the new trilogy and every Star Wars fan knows that it didn't live up to their expectations. It doesn't come close to the original trilogy, but it's not a horrible movie. Yes, Jar Jar Binks is beyond annoying, but this movie has great sequences which look great in 3D. One of the memorable scenes is the pod race scene and the 3D of that scene was very breath-taking. Of course the end light saber fight was legendary. This movie isn't for purchase or rental by itself, so I really can't suggest anything unless you want to buy the complete saga. With the 3D included, I give it a B-.
7. Safe House, 2/10/12 at 6:15 p.m. - Going into this movie I was excited, but left with some disappointment. Now the action was great and Denzel was Denzel as usual. But I really can't take Ryan Reynolds seriously in these type of movies. I do like the idea of the story and they were great action sequences and awesome stunt work and Denzel brought it. But it is forgettable, no memorable moments and a lack luster ending. Do not buy. Rental or Netflix viewing will suffice. I give it a C.
8. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance 3D, 2/16/12 at Midnight - Okay this movie was bad. Cheesy on every level imaginable. But I have to admit, Nicolas Cage was hilarious in this movie. I honestly wonder if knew this movie was going to be a joke. Maybe he likes making movies and not caring if they do well in the box office or became legends. To say something good about this film, there was a scene where Nic Cage is trying to fight the Ghost Rider in him and he starts screaming and acting like a buffoon. I couldn't keep a straight face and lost it. But overall, do not see this movie. It will be a wast of time. I give it a D. (I've seen a lot worse in my movie watching career).
9. This Means War, 2/17/12 at 7:00 p.m. - This is my first romantic comedy of the year and it is what it is. Two guys that are best friends end up battling for the same girl and they guys happen to be in the FBI or CIA, I can't remember. But the action scenes were cheesy and the whole movie was predictable. But it is a fun movie to watch. It's not going to win any awards, it's not gonna be in the conversation for the best movie ever, but its watchable. Rental or Netflix viewing. I give it a C.
10. Gone, 2/24/12 at 4:05 p.m. - When I went into this movie, I wasn't expecting much; the trailer got me interested enough to go to the theater and seeing it. I have to say this movie was better than I expected; surpassed my expectations. I really didn't expect anything because of Amanda Seyfried being this chick who wants to catch the guy who kidnapped her years ago, it didn't seem like it would work. But honestly the movie wasn't that bad. It really kept your attention was intense at points. I wouldn't buy it, but its definitely worth a rental or Netflix viewing. I give it a C+.
11. Project X, 3/1/12 at Midnight - Now this was an experience. This theater was packed and I never saw so many snapback hats in one place in my life. The audience really got into this movie. And they should because the target audience of this movie is high school kids and college kids. Even though this movie in every way is over-the-top, it just works. There is no story depth, great dialogue or things along those lines; but this film didn't need those things. The film was hilarious and entertaining, not that realistic, but it doesn't matter. They wanted the greatest party ever, and they got one. Not the funniest movie of the year, but it wasn't disappointed. Most people in the age range I mentioned will buy it, but it's definitely worth the rental or Netflix viewing. I give it a B-.
12. The Lorax in IMAX, 3/2/12 at 9:25 p.m. - This was my first IMAX experience of the year as well as my first animation movie of the year. I have to say this film was fun to watch and it was kind of a musical as well. The thing that got me into this movie was the opening song at the beginning of the movie, Thneedville. The song was absolutely amazing and I kind of got what kind of movie this is going to be and loved it. They incorporated a little romance story into the movie as well and it all worked out. But it did have too many flashback sequences; you kind of lose why the flashback story is being told in the first place. But it was still awesome. I bought this movie on Blu-Ray the day it was released. But its definitely worth a rental or Netflix viewing to see if you want to purchase it. I give it a B.
13. John Carter in IMAX, 3/9/12 at 7:25 p.m. - Everyone knows the story about this film I think. A lot money put into this making of this film, but a huge box office bomb, which I believe the marketing department played a huge role. The trailer for this movie was not good and misleading. The movie was okay, a little long but a lot of cool action sequences. The set they used to portray Mars was very neat. Taylor Kitsch's acting needs some improvement, but this being his first starring role it wasn't bad. It's worth a rental or Netflix viewing. I give it a B-.
14. 21 Jump Street, 3/15/12 at Midnight - This was my first all out comedy of the year and it was very good. Most of the time I do not like comedies that rely on cursing as a form of entertainment. Now this movie did that, but it also featured other elements of comedy. Jonah Hill did his usual "clever" comedy has I like to put it and Channing Tatum was a surprise here. He really had me rolling. I had fun watching this movie and it made my stomach hurt I laughed so hard. It's definitely worth a rental and many Netflix viewings but if its in your budget, buy it. I give it a B.
15. The Hunger Games in IMAX, 3/23/12 at 7:00 p.m. - This movie was awesome. I never read the book so I didn't have that need to compare it to the book scene for scene, chapter to chapter. I actually got to the theater a hour and a half early and sat it line and talked to some old folks who actually read the books and going in made me even more pumped to see it. When I got in the anticipation was killing me. I couldn't wait for it to start and when it was over, I was amazed. It was lengthy but that didn't matter. Jennifer Lawrence was awesome as Katniss and the movie grabbed your attention and never let it go and had a great climatic ending. I bought the Blu-ray and I recommend it to everyone, buy, rent, or Netflix it. I give it an A-.
16. Wrath of the Titans in IMAX, 3/29/12 at Midnight - The thing about this movie is that its prequel really had no story. It was just a bunch of fight scenes strung together as he was moving one place to the other and then near the had to save Andromeda. Now the sequel had a better story and of course the action scenes were top notch and the CGI looked pretty good. The acting is another issue, but if we are talking about pure entertainment, this movie delivers. It was a fun film to watch and I never got bored. If you bought the prequel from 2010, buy this. It's worth a rental or Netflix viewing. I give it a C .
17. Cabin in the Woods, 4/19/12 at 10:30 p.m. - Now after I got out of this film, it became my favorite of the year immediately. This movie was so clever and was very fun to watch. It does three things involving the horror drama. First, it spoofs all the horror/slasher movies that have came out in the last few years because they are predictable and down right dumb. Second, it pays homage to the better horror movies from the late 70s to 80s that became cult classics. And finally, it had a twisted, original story onto that horror has ever seen. The trailer hurts because it just shows what they are making fun, a bunch of kids going to a remote cabinet drunk and die one by one, but that's really not even close to what it is. I highly suggest you rent or Netflix view this movie, and if you love it and understand its cleverness, buy it. I give it a B+.
18. Titanic in IMAX, 4/20/12 at 11:10 a.m. - Now everyone knows Titanic. Love it or hate it, it changed movies. It combined Romeo and Juliet with a true story, the Titanic sinking. The movie itself was amazing, the special effects were ahead of its time and finally this year they made an IMAX 3D transfer which is absolutely beautiful. It was amazing to see and finally to see the movie after not seeing it for a long time, it truly is a great film and one of the best of all time. The 3D Blu-ray just came out and if you have a BR player, you should own this film. It truly is a great feat and it launched Leo DiCaprio into stardom. I give it a B+.
19. The Raven, 4/26/12 at Midnight - I really didn't enjoy this movie. I like John Cusack and the trailer got me interested, but the tone that was portrayed in the trailer didn't even match the one in the movie. This movie was slow... so slow. I really almost fell asleep. I wanted to like this movie but I just couldn't. The first half was hard to watch, the pace was slow and honestly I was checking the time many times throughout. The second half got more interesting but it was hard to recover from the first half. Once the movie was over, I didn't hate it as much but I will never watch it again. It's one of those movies where you have to watch it yourself and make a decision on whether you like it or not. Give it a view and see what you think. I give it a D+.
20. The Avengers in IMAX, 5/4/12 at 10:15 p.m. - Finally, all the super hero movies we've been watching built up to this moment, THE AVENGERS. All of them on the same screen and let me tell you it was awesome. Now it's not in my top 5 of the year, but entertainment wise this movie brought it. I waited in the IMAX line for about 2 hours before they let us into the IMAX and I talked to some really cool movie buffs and it built the anticipation even more. This movie was CGI clinic and the special effects were great and it was most definitely worth the $15.50 and the two hour wait. I recommend this movie for purchase, rental, or Netflix views. It really did live up to the hype. I give it a A-.
21. Dark Shadows in IMAX, 5/10/12 at Midnight - Going into this movie I had no expectations. I knew that Tim Burton and Johnny Depp have done many movies together and pretty much all of them have been successful and pretty fun to watch even though they are pretty weird. A lot of people thought this movie looked dumb, but I went into it with an open mind and I came out loving this film. First off, the soundtrack was amazing. It featured great classic rock songs from the 70s which was a huge plus for me. I liked the story, the movie had a great pace, and it was very funny. Depp flourishes in these roles. I will buy this Blu-ray soon, but I recommend this movie for rental or Netflix viewing. If you love Tim Burton or Depp, buy it. I give it a B.
22. Battleship, 5/18/12 at 11:05 p.m. - Battleship was one of those films that just dominates with special effects and lacks in story depth and acting. I love Taylor Kitsch because of his role as Tim Riggins in Friday Night Lights and I'm glad he got a chance to be a lead actor in Hollywood blockbusters, but this whole film his character reminded me of Tim Riggins. He needs to be able to create new characters for himself. But this was an action thrill ride and it is a fun movie to watch. If you like Transformers, you will like this. I haven't bought it, I might if I can find it for a solid price because the action scenes are worth it enough even though they overused CGI. But give it a rental or a Netflix viewing, it's worth a watch. I give it a C.
23. Men in Black 3 in IMAX, 5/28/12 at 2:15 p.m. - This was a movie I was really excited for. The first one was a classic, second took a step back and was kind of dumb, and then there is this one. I think this one was better than the second but not even close to the original. It was a fun movie, but also thought they hurried this film so it could be released in May. It could have been written a little better; the villain was kind of lame. The story had promise, I liked the whole back in time bit and I loved the character of Griff. But when its all said and done, this is a popcorn May blockbuster. The special effects were pretty cool and the ending was very intense. If you have the other two, buy this one. But it is a fun rental or Netflix viewing. I give it a B-.
24. Snow White and the Huntsman, 6/1/12 at 7:15 p.m. - This movie had a great trailer and I was pumped to see it. I wasn't too thrilled about Kristen Stewart being in it, but Hemsworth is turning into a great action star and Charlize Theron is such a great actress. Her performance in this movie was strong. Now the pace of the movie was pretty slow, but I don't think it hurt the film. Near the end it picked up with some great action scenes and I left the theater pretty happy. My mom ended up buying the Blu-ray and she likes it. I personally didn't think I'd buy it, but it is worth seeing as rental or Netflix viewing. Charlize Theron's portrayal of the Evil Queen and the action scenes are worth it. I give it a B-.
25. Prometheus in IMAX, 6/7/12 at Midnight - Now this movie was a great experience. I actually saw it twice, one in St. Louis and another time in Springfield with my friend Justin. When this movie gets brought up, you either loved it or hated it and I LOVED it. I knew going in that this was going to be the first installment with sequels coming after it. I knew there would be unanswered questions so that's why I think I wasn't disappointed like some others were. I also waited in the IMAX line for 2 hours before being let in and I got to talk to some very cool movie fans like myself. Now the movie, the special effects were the best I've seen all year and the things that happened in this movie were absolutely nuts. Yes the first half is slow, but what is doing is setting everything up for the second half which is crazy good. This movie was awesome... a real good sci-fi flick. I bought it on Blu-ray the day it came out and I suggest everyone give it a try. I give this movie an A-.
26. That's My Boy, 6/14/12 at Midnight - This movie was dumb. I saw the trailer going in and I thought it was going to not good, but Adam Sandler was in it so I gave it the benefit of the doubt. I the part I like the most about this movie was the beginning when Sandler's character was just a kid. I thought that scene was hilarious and then the rest of the movie happened. It's definitely not his worst, but doesn't come close to his best. He tried to do his 90's characters voice in this film and it just sounded dumb and I didn't think that Samberg was funny either. I didn't like this movie. If you like Sandler, give it a try but I don't not suggest you buy it unless you are trying to own every Sandler movie. I give it a D+.
27. Rock of Ages, 6/16/12 at 2:20 p.m. - Rock of Ages was such a fun movie. I remember seeing the trailer about 2 months before the I saw the film and was very happy and excited. A musical featuring some of my favorite classic rock band's songs and with Julianne Hough (Gorgeous) and Tom Cruise (Legend). I left this movie amazed. Now don't get me wrong, it is very cheesy and over the top but that's the way it was intended to be. Tom Cruise's performance was lights out and worth the price of admission. He was on point and the rest of the cast was awesome too. This movie had some of the best classic rock songs in it and the cast delivered them very well to the audience. It was just a fun movie to watch. My mom bought the Blu-ray on Black Friday and this movie is well worth a watch or too. I give it a B.
28. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, 6/21/12 at Midnight - Okay so the title of this movie got some chucks and people in disbelief when audiences saw the trailer. But to me I was a little interested. I like the idea of taking history and combining it with a genre which we have known for a while. I actually enjoyed this movie a lot. It had some sweet action scenes and cool special effects. The CGI was pretty good and the 3D wasn't bad at all. It all worked out well. Starting out, it moved really slow but it did pick up and had a very cool and intense ending that I think all action fans would enjoy. I bought the Blu-ray on Black Friday and was very happy with my purchase. It is definitely worth a try. Rent it or watch on Netflix. I give it a B.
29. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, 6/23/12 at 4:40 p.m. - This movie is definitely one of the most underrated movies of the year. I absolutely love this movie. Steve Carell in dark comedies is amazing and this one really impressed. What made it so good is the fact you know how the movie is going to end... with the world ending. The movie starts out with a sad tone, everyone is shocked that the world is going to end and that worked so well. When something good or fun happened, it made feel really happy for the characters given the circumstances. Carell and Keira Knightley's chemistry was great in this movie. I loved this movie so much. Probably one of my favorites. I suggest everyone see this movie whenever you get the opportunity. It is so good. I give it a B+.
30. Ted, 6/28/12 at Midnight - So after seeing a lackluster comedy in That's My Boy, I really needed another comedy to come quickly and it most certainly did with this movie. Ted was absolutely hysterical. Now I am not a fan of Family Guy, so I didn't know how I'd feel about this movie. After the opening scene before the credits, I laughed so hard and I knew that this was going to be something special. Mark Wahlberg did a great job in the movie knowing he really had to act with a bear next to him being operated by the crew and he made it look like he was really hanging with Ted. It's great to see Mark do a comedy again; I loved The Other Guys and I've been waiting for his next comedy for awhile. I bought this movie on Blu-ray when it came out and I think overall it is the second funniest film of the year. It is definitely worth a rental or Netflix viewing. I give Ted a B.
31. Magic Mike, 6/29/12 at 7:30 p.m. - Okay, Magic Mike. I saw the trailer, I knew what I was getting myself into and to be completely honest, this movie wasn't that bad. It was interesting and the choreography in this film was pretty cool. The dances the actors/stunt men did in the movie were amazing. I didn't know people could move their bodies like that and it is very impressive. Steven Soderbergh is a great director and I think he did a great job with this film, but the biggest problem for me was the acting of the lead female and Alex Pettyfer. These two acting performances were really cringe-worthy and definitely hurt the film. Channing Tatum's performance was okay, but the huge standout was McConaughey. He was pretty awesome in this movie. But I do think it's worth a view from both men and women. I would give it a C+ or B- if those two performances weren't awful. I give it a C.
32. Savages, 7/2/12 at 7:00 p.m. - I got to see Savages for free, advanced free screening, and Oliver Stone is a very good filmmaker and Taylor Kitsch was in this so I was very exciting to see how he would do in his third film of the year. I got to say this film was different and I liked it. This movie grabbed your attention from the very beginning and never let go. It was very intense and you got very involved with the two main characters. You got a sense of what kind of people they were right when you saw them. Taylor Kitsch played a tough guy, the muscle; Aaron Johnson played the brains. The movie moved slow at some points but I don't think that hurt it at all. Blake Lively's performance was okay, not great but it didn't really hurt the film. The thing that may have hurt the film was the ending; audiences were not happy with the ending of the film. I won't spoil it, but I am interested in why Oliver Stone wanted to do something so controversial. Savages is definitely worth a view. I give it a B-.
33. The Amazing Spider-Man in IMAX, 7/2/12 at Midnight - I saw Amazing Spidey after I saw Savages and I absolutely loved this movie. I think it is better than any of the Sam Raimi-Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movies and then some. Andrew Garfield was on point as Peter Parker and actually brought the character to life in the movie. He brought more emotion as well. The special effects in this movie was pretty top notch as well. The movie did move along slow, but I was fine with it because throughout the film it was building the character of Peter Parker and I really enjoyed seeing that. The Lizard was pretty good villain; I think they could have done more with him but overall he was solid. I enjoyed this film a lot and I recommend all you give it a watch. I give it a B+.
34. The Dark Knight Rises in IMAX, 7/20/12 at 3:35 a.m. - So the midnight show was sold out so I did the next best thing, 3:35 a.m. This film was beyond amazing. This film very well is in my top 3 of 2012 and probably in everyone's top 5. Christopher Nolan does it again; he knew that following up the Dark Knight was going to be tough but he held is own and made another masterpiece. Anything Nolan makes is gold. This guy is a brilliant filmmaker. I wanted to see it at midnight but the tickets were sold out so I had to stay up and by the time the film was done around 6:30 a.m., I was going on 20 hours straight of being awake, but I wasn't even close to dozing off during this movie. We got to see that character of Bruce Wayne more than Batman and I liked that. I liked seeing Bruce and getting to know his character and what drives him. The cast was amazing, the writing was amazing, and the musical score was amazing. I recommend this film to everyone. I bought it the day it came out on Blu-ray. I give this film an A+.
35. Total Recall, 8/2/12 at Midnight - Now the original Total Recall is a great movie and one of Arnold's best. Going into this movie I wondered why they picked Colin Farrell to portray the role made famous by Schwarzenegger. Now they didn't copy the original scene to scene which I was okay with because Farrell can't do things Schwarzenegger did. But the one problem with this movie is it didn't have anything to do with Mars which was the whole idea around the original. But I'm glad Colin Farrell brought his own approach to the movie. He didn't impersonate Schwarzenegger which was good. But there was also too much CGI in the movie and the action scenes were cheesy. I don't think it was as good as the original, but it wasn't horrible. It's worth a watch on Netflix or a rental. I give it a B-.
36. The Bourne Legacy, 8/9/12 at Midnight - This is the first Bourne movie without Matt Damon and I wasn't happy at first about replacing him with Renner when I saw the cast announced before the film. Then I watched The Town, The Hurt Locker, and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and then I became a fan of Renner. Now I was really interested how they were going to do the film without Damon and I don't think this film was horrible, but it wasn't as good as the other ones. The pace of the film was very slow, but it wasn't bad because they were trying to set the whole movie up for sequels. They gave us a lot of information and background which was crucial for the film. But the highlight of the film was the 20+ minute chase scene that ended the movie and it was absolutely intense... edge of the seat action. It's definitely worth a rental or Netflix viewing, Bourne fans should buy the movie. I give it a B-.
37. The Campaign, 8/10/12 at 8:45 p.m. - Now going into this movie I wasn't impressed by the trailer and after the seeing the movie, I felt a little better about it but it wasn't great. I like the idea of politics but it was a little over the top. A lot of dumb jokes and at times the movie relied on cursing to get some laughs, but there was a lot of good laughs as well. This movie boils down to the tale of two halves. The first half of this movie was hysterical, falling out of my seat laughing. Then the second half came and they were still doing the same jokes and they weren't getting the same laughs as the first half. But the ending was very heart felt and I believe it was the best way to end it. If you like Ferrell and Galifianakis, you will love this movie. It's worth a watch, it's better than That's My Boy. I give it a C+.
38. Expendables 2, 8/16/12 at Midnight - So the original was pretty cool, but the action scenes were a little dull. Don't get me wrong, they were cool but I think they could have been filmed better and the villain was pretty weak as well. Now the sequel was amazing. Even though this is the CHEESIEST film of the year, it worked. The action scenes and the stunt work is the best I've seen this whole year and Jean Claude Van Damme as the villain was so cool. This movie had all the 80s action heroes in it as well as the current ones. It was great to see Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis in this movie more than they were in the first one. This movie was never boring and I wish it could be longer. I can't wait for the third which was green lighted when this one came out. I recommend that everyone give this a try, you won't be disappointed. I give it a B+.
39. ParaNorman 3D, 8/18/12 at 3:45 p.m. - This was my second animation movie of the year with the Lorax being the first. This movie was great and very interesting. It grabs your attention and doesn't let go and keeps you sucked in the whole time. This movie was made using stop motion which means that the movie was made buy taking hundreds of thousands of pictures and then putting them together to make a motion picture; kind of like a flip book. I really enjoyed this movie and honestly don't have anything to complain about. The story was well written and the voice actors were great. This movie was very fun and I believe all will like it. I recommend everyone give this a viewing. I give it a B+.
40. Premium Rush, 8/25/12 at 5:10 p.m. - This movie was one my favorites of the year. It was very underrated. The bike stunts for this movie was unbelievable. I was so impressed what all these people did on a mountain bike. The story was pretty good and Joseph Gordon Levitt is turning into a star and go to guy if you want the one of the best. When I saw the trailer, I was beyond pumped for this film. We really haven't gotten a bike movie from when I can remember and I couldn't to see how this would turn out. This movie was great. The only problem I had with it is that I did a lot of flashbacks which makes it hard to keep up with, but other than that the film was amazing. It was so much fun and exciting and I can't wait to buy the Blu-ray. I highly recommend this to everyone. I give it a B+.
41. Lawless, 8/29/12 at 7:20 p.m. - I was really pumped to see this movie. Tom Hardy was become a big star since Inception and I was really looking forward to this movie to be bad ass, but to be honest it was a little boring. That it what really got me down; I was looking for tons of action but only got a little. Now this was a good movie. It had a great story and amazing performances all around. One of the best parts of the movie was Guy Pearce playing the villain. He was so mean and nasty, he really made you hate him. The movie picked up around the ending and I must say the ending was fantastic. It was really justifiable. All around, this is a well made movie. This is definitely worth a rental or Netflix viewing. I give it a B.
42. The Possession, 8/30/12 at Midnight - Now what I haven't mentioned is how their were crappy horror movies coming out like Paranormal 4 and The Apparition. The Possession wasn't as crappy as those but it wasn't the best horror film. Jeffrey Dean Morgan who played the lead in this film was great. He added great comic relief and life to a movie that was dull and slow. All the horror movies coming out these days have something to do with an evil box or possessed kid. They need to come up with better ideas. This movie was the better or the dumb idea horror movies but it could have been much better. You can skip this movie unless you want a horror movie night and you want to watch movies you've never seen. I give it a C.
43. Raiders of the Lost Ark in IMAX, 9/6/12 at Midnight - So this isn't a new movie obviously. Everyone knows Indiana Jones and I just wanted to see this because I love the IMAX theater and love the Indy series. Let me tell you, the IMAX transfer and restoration of this movie was phenomenal. The picture of course was lot better but the thing that amazed me was the sound. It was loud and honestly it sounded like you there. The movie is a classic and one of the best of all time. I bought the complete adventures of Blu-ray for $65 and if you are a huge movie fan, you can't go wrong with this collection. I give it an A.
44. For a Good time Call..., 9/12/12 at 7:00 p.m. - I wasn't planning on paying to see this movie but I received an advanced screening pass so I figure what the hell. I went to this movie not really digging the trailer and whatnot, but I actually enjoyed this film. I mentioned before I'm not a big fan of relying on cursing to get laughs, but this movie used cursing and it worked. For what the movies is about I believe cursing fits into it well. It was vulgar and that worked as well. This movie is generally funny but not having a large release is a shame because I thought it could have reached a good amount of people and it would generally be liked. But it did have problems... the second half of the movie got a little slow and started getting too serious which lost my interest. But I would definitely say give it a rental or Netflix view. I give it a C+.
45. Pitch Perfect, 9/13/12 at 7:00 p.m. - I actually saw this movie twice. But the first time I saw it was actually in an AMC theater of Clayton Road with an advanced screening pass, I saw next this mother-daughter duo from New York and it was actually fun to talk to them. The second time I saw it was the 3rd leg in my triple feature with Perks of Being a Wallflower and Argo, which I will get to later. But Pitch Perfect, this movie was awesome. When the opening scene was finished and the credits started rolling I knew I was going to laugh obnoxiously hard throughout this whole movie. This movie is hysterical and used NO cursing whatsoever. The songs that sang were okay; they sang a lot of current stuff but that's to be expected. I definitely recommend this movie for purchase, rental, or Netflix viewing. I give it a B+.
46. House at the End of the Street, 9/20/12 at 7:00 p.m. - Going into this movie I thought it was going to be awesome based on the trailer. But what I got was a dumb horror movie. I really wanted this movie to be good but it was so dull. Which is surprising because Jennifer Lawrence is in this and she is a greatest actress who really doesn't choose bad roles but this one choice was bad. Nothing in this movie made sense. I was giving it the benefit of the doubt and waiting for the twist to make everything work but it just didn't. All the performances were weak besides Lawrence's. Don't see this movie. I'm lucky I saw it for free. I give it a D.
47. Looper, 9/26/12 at 7:00 p.m. - This is another movie I got an advanced screening pass for and my goodness this movie was awesome. Such an original idea surrounded with great effects, action, and acting. This movie was something else... out of this world. And to add Bruce Willis to this pretty good cast was so cool. Joseph Gordon Levitt was awesome in this and solidifies his future as a house hold name. The complexity of this movie and how everything works out is unbelievable. I can't wait to see writer/director Rian Johnson does next. I highly recommend this movie to everyone. If you are a movie fan, you will want to see this amazing piece of art. I give it an A-.
48. Seven Psychopaths, 10/4/12 at 7:00 p.m. - Going into this movie I knew nothing about it, didn't even know it was being made or released. I just got an email saying I was invited to an advanced free screening so I decided I will check it out. I left the theater knowing that I just saw the funniest film of 2012. This film was out of control... I don't think I have laughed continuously hard ever as I did during this movie. The whole cast was hilarious but Sam Rockwell and Christopher Walken were the clear stand outs. This guys were bringing it throughout the whole film and each time they said something or did something it was hilarious. I highly recommend this film when it comes out on DVD/Blu-ray. Rent it. You will be impressed. I give it an A-.
49. Taken 2, 10/4/12 at 10:00 p.m. - So when this got announced, I was like hmmm... his daughter got kidnapped again? But it was a little different than that. I honestly went in thinking it wasn't going to be that good but I left thinking it was okay. It borrowed a lot of elements from the amazing original and then some. It had a lot of farfetched ideas and I think it was a little over the top which didn't help. Sometimes movies know that they are cheesy and are being made for the fans like Expendables 2, but this movie was trying to be serious and it made it dumb. Liam Neeson is awesome but some of the tactics he used to be found or to help find someone were kind of outrageous. But other than that, the movie feature awesome fight scenes and great special effects. It's definitely worth a watch. I give it a C+.
50. Sinister, 10/11/12 at Midnight - Now this movie was the best horror movie of 2012 that was meant to scare you. This movie had some creepy moments and jump scares that actually made you jump instead of laugh. Which made this movie better was Ethan Hawke. He is such a credible actor and what he does is really owns a role. He doesn't do it for a quick paycheck, he wants the movie to be good so he gave a great performance and the movie itself was pretty good. There was a clever twist to the end and the story wasn't that boring... they there in a couple intense moments to keep your attention and overall this movie is satisfying. Definitely worth a watch. I give it a B.
51. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, 10/16/12 at 5:05 p.m. - So October 16th was Ronnie's movie appreciation day where if you were a MVP card holder, you got to see any movie you want for free that day. I took advantage of this and saw 3 movies for free.... a triple feature.. my first ever. I saw this, Argo, and Pitch Perfect for a second time. But to Perks, I never read the book but I knew the author of the book was the director of the film so I knew that the movie was going to be done parallel to the book. The movie was great. The performances all around was great, Logan Lerman stands out. The story was so heartfelt, it grabs you and doesn't let go. You feel for all the characters and it's like you are there hanging with them. I got into this film and right away was locked in. This movie is definitely underrated and I recommend to everyone of all ages. This film is one of the best of year by far. Watch it for sure. I give it an A-.
52. Argo, 10/16/12 at 7:35 p.m. - I went in knowing this film was going to be amazing and wouldn't you know it was. Ben Affleck is making this actor turned director thing look easy. Argo is his third film and it was just as wonderful, if not better than his first two. (Gone Baby Gone, The Town). He is taking roles now that are actually meaningful and making movies that absolutely fantastic. Argo had a great story, superb dialogue, and surprisingly great comedy. The movie was absolutely intense, especially the second half. You get locked it from the opening minutes to the end of the film. I definitely recommend this when it comes out on DVD/Blu-ray and wouldn't be surprised if it wins a few Oscars. I give it an A.
53. Wreck-It Ralph 3D, 10/25/12 at 7:00 p.m. - This was definitely the best animated film I've seen in 2012. This movie brings back all the memories of playing video games when I was a little kid. It had cameos by many games my parents played and that I played. I got a free advanced screening from a friend and it didn't even matter because I would have paid to see this movie. It was really good and there was never a dull moment. Each scene was fun, exciting, and intense. It has your full attention the full length of the movie and characters in the movie were awesome. The story was pretty cool as well. It makes you wonder what do the villains in the actual games think, haha. But I definitely recommend you see this movie when it comes out on DVD/Blu-ray. I give it a A-.
54. Flight, 11/1/12 at 7:00 p.m. - I was really looking forward to this movie and I was so glad when I got a free advanced screening pass to see it. I'll just say that I have a 6 ft tall and 3.5 ft wide poster of this movie in my room so you can probably guess that I liked this film, in fact I loved it. Denzel Washington is so good... he might be the best actor of our time. This guy just owns a role and the special effects during the plane crash scene were amazing. This movie has the record for most intense scenes in a movie for 2012. This movie had you drawn in from the opening scene to the end. It had a little side story happening in the background which was pretty good as well. Flight is one of my favorites of the year and I highly recommend this one to everyone. I give it an A.
55. Skyfall in IMAX, 11/10/12 at 3:45 p.m. - This is my favorite movie of the year. We all have grown up with James Bond movies. So have our parents and grandparents. The franchise was been going strong for 50 years and this movie show us why. Daniel Craig took over Bond in Casino Royale and just dominated the role. Then Quantum of Solace came is it was alright. But my goodness, this movie was just exhilarating. Sam Mendes, an Oscar award winning director, just took this movie by the horns and made it his own. The opening scene of the movie was a chase scene and it was so good and intense; it had to be one of the best scenes of the year. HOLY CRAP. Then Javier Bardem as the villain was fantastic. He was equally funny as he was scary. This film exceeds all expectations and I recommend this film to everyone. I give it an A+.
56. Silver Linings Playbook, 12/28/12 at 4:40 p.m. - So it has been a month and half since I have been in theaters and I have been slacking. So I decided to do one more triple feature to end my 2012 movie theater experience. I saw Silver Linings Playbook, Django Unchained, and Les Miserables consecutively on this day. First, Silver Linings Playbook is a movie I have been wanting to see since I saw the trailer. It had limited release on 11/21/12 but it wasn't in St. Louis. Finally it came out and let me tell you this movie was amazing. It felt so real, it made you relate with the characters. Bradley Cooper was great in this movie. You always see him in these buddy comedies and to see him in a serious role and dominate like this one was something else. The whole cast of the movie did a great job and the movie itself was beautiful. I thought about this movie for a couple days after seeing it. It left a great imprint on me and I highly recommend this movie to all as well. I give it an A-.
57. Django Unchained, 12/28/12 at 7:20 p.m. - Quentin Tarantino is one of my favorite directors of all time and I knew what I would get with this film; Tarantino trademarks. Once again Tarantino delivers; everything about this movie was good. It was long but it didn't matter because it kept you locked in and kept you focused. You couldn't help but to root for Django to get his wife back. You can see the character transform throughout the film from a shy slave to an eccentric badass. The dialogue was the best of the year, the ending was great, and the soundtrack was fancy just like Tarantino likes it. Django is easily one of the best but I don't think its good as his first two films, Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. I recommend everyone see this movie. It is action packed and has a great story. I give it an A.
58. Les Miserables, 12/28/12 at 10:40 p.m. - This is my final film of my triple feature as well as 2012 and I must say this movie was different. Most musicals I've seen have been at least 50/50 when it comes to singing and non singing, but this movie was more like 95 percent singing. They sang this whole movie and I wasn't expecting that at all. But the funny thing is that I loved it. I really, really liked this movie and loved the songs that were featured. Now this movie isn't for everyone so if you can't sit through 2 hours and 30 minutes worth of singing, then you won't like this movie at all. All the performances were great and some Oscar nominations were certainly come this films way. I recommend this to musical fans, but I would like people to give it a chance. I give it a B+.
THE END
So that's it... a list of all 58 movies I've seen in 2012. I had fun at each one of this movies and I wouldn't take back any of them. Some were bad, but you gotta know that you will come across those every once in awhile. In 2013 my goal again is 50, but I would love to go past that again. I would like to thank all of you for reading this and comments would awesome. I'd to know what you guys thought on my list. I'll try to write more full length reviews in 2013, but until then. Brandon out.
