More Reviews on the Way!
I’ve been really slacking when it comes to updating this blog, and for that I apologize. I have still been watching an insane amount of movies, and have mostly been keeping track of them on Letterboxd. But don’t worry! I’ve recently gotten the kick in the ass I needed to start updating this blog again, so more reviews are coming soon!
My Most Anticipated Films of 2013
2013 may be off to a rocky start (due to the fact that January is the dumping ground for films studios can’t release any other time of year) but I think 2013 is going to shape up to be another great year for movies. There is a lot to be excited about, and I’ve got a list of my top 10 anticipated films of the year.
These are in ascending order, starting with 10 and working my way up to the film I’m most excited for!
My Favorite Comic Book Movie Villains
A movie is only as good as its villain, and when it comes to superhero movies that’s a tall order. Some films have amazing villains that stick with us and provide a thrilling challenge for our hero, while others can be cheesy and terrible and bring the whole movie down with them. Here is a list of my ten favorites, in ascending order.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
I really wanted to like The Hobbit. Hell, it’s the only book in Tolkien’s series of Middle Earth novels I really enjoyed and I’ve been patiently (and sometimes very impatiently) waiting for the film adaptation. I absolutely loved the LOTR trilogy and will remember it as one of the best trilogies of all time. So believe me when I tell you that despite mixed reviews, I went into this film with an open mind and really, really tried to like it. But as I found myself walking out of the theater I couldn’t help but notice I was trying to convince myself that I wasn’t disappointed. And unfortunately, that’s exactly what I am.
JJ Abrams to direct Star Wars Episode VII!
Get ready for some Lightsaber lens flares! I can’t believe I’m reporting this, but the news just broke that JJ Abrams is on board to direct Star Wars Episode VII! When asked about it in the past he stated that he’d rather be in the audience than in the director’s chair, but I’m stoked that he changed his mind! His was the first name on my wishlist of possible directors but I didn’t think it would happen, at least not until Disney started making spin-off Star War stories.
It’s a shame that (at least at this time) Abrams won’t be working with his usual collaborators Damon Lindelof, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci; but I’m very confident that Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3) will deliver a fantastic script and that under JJ’s direction, we’re finally going to see the Star Wars film we’ve all been waiting for. I plan to write an article soon about what I want to see from the future of the Star Wars franchise, but for now I’m just basking in the glory of this news.
What do you guys think? Is JJ biting off more than he can chew now that he’s at the helm of two of the biggest sci fi franchises of all time? What do you want to see from a JJ Abrams directed Star Wars movie?
Dredd (2012)
If Die Hard and Robocop had a baby you’d wind up with Dredd, a fantastic comic book adaptation that really surprised me and has climbed the list as one of my favorite films of 2012.
He appears to us fully formed, without the need for an origin story, background, or even face. Karl Urban does a fantastic job of taking what could have been a boring part and making it fun as hell. I love that the film is just about a day in this guy’s life, free of epiphanies or internal conflict and just about surviving and delivering justice where justice is due. There is no need for large scale conflict or a “save the world” scenario, and by making the film more confined it became easier to get swept up in the action and just go along for the ride. I hope that if the film ever gets a sequel they stick to the same method and just give us some great standalone films.
Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
Starring: Quvenzhane Wallis, Dwight Henry, Levy Easterly, and Gina Montana
First and foremost, this is the most unique film I’ve seen in years. What could have, in the hands of another director, been a pretty straightforward narrative, was given a memorable spin that sets it apart from the other best picture nominees. I had to constantly remind myself that the film wasn’t a documentary, because the world they created in this film, and the people in it, felt so real that it was impossible to imagine them as actors. It goes without saying that nine year old Quvenzhane Wallis gives one of the best performances of the year, and completely carries the film on her capable shoulders. She steals the scene with a simple look or frown and made the emotions in the film really resonate.
My Favorite Movie Moments of 2012
2012 proved to be a great year for movies! The stuff that was good was really good, and even the things that were bad had good things in them. Here are some of my favorite movie moments from the year, in no particular order other than my number 1.
Quick Reviews (Week of Jan 6)
Sorry I stopped posting for a while, got pretty busy around the holidays. Hope you all had a good New Years! I’ve posted a couple reviews already but I really hope to post a lot more on this blog for 2013 and part of that will be my quick reviews. I ended up watching about 30 movies this December and just don’t have the time to write about all of them, but here are my impressions on a handful. The films include The Adventures of Tintin, Premium Rush, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, and Source Code.
Flight (2012)
