Films I have seen for the first time during 2012
This is a list of the films I have seen for the first time during 2012. These did not necessarily come out during the year. I have ordered them by my personal rating. Films with the same rating are just in the order I saw them.
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- DirectorTate TaylorStarsViola DavisEmma StoneOctavia SpencerAn aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African American maids' point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis.This film is brilliant. It is heart-warming, funny and touching in so many ways - 10
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsAsa ButterfieldChloë Grace MoretzChristopher LeeIn 1931 Paris, an orphan living in the walls of a train station gets wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.I totally expected a different film based on the advertising. I was pleasantly surprised that I thoroughly enjoyed it regardless - 9
- DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansScarlett JohanssonEarth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.Fantastic action adventure. Leave your brain at the door and just have a good time - 9
- DirectorJames BobinStarsAmy AdamsJason SegelChris CooperA Muppet fanatic with some help from his 2 human compatriots must regroup the Muppet gang to stop an avaricious oil mogul from taking down one of their precious life-longing treasures.An excellent reboot to the Muppet franchise. Lots of fun for those that grew up watching the Muppets, like me - 8
- DirectorRupert WyattStarsJames FrancoAndy SerkisFreida PintoA substance designed to help the brain repair itself gives advanced intelligence to a chimpanzee who leads an ape uprising.The visual effects are very well done. There isn't a single real ape in this film. At points the digital apes are quite obviously not real, but many of the scenes are amazingly lifelike - 8
- DirectorBarry SonnenfeldStarsWill SmithTommy Lee JonesJosh BrolinAgent J travels in time to M.I.B.'s early days in 1969 to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history.Not as good as the first one, but much better than the second. Josh Brolan pulls off an excellent Tommy Lee Jones impression for playing the young Agent K - 8
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsNoomi RapaceLogan Marshall-GreenMichael FassbenderFollowing clues to the origin of mankind, a team finds a structure on a distant moon, but they soon realize they are not alone.8
- DirectorMark AndrewsBrenda ChapmanSteve PurcellStarsKelly MacdonaldBilly ConnollyEmma ThompsonDetermined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.It ranks high on my personal favourites from Pixar. They should get a special Academy Award for the animation of the protagonist's hair - 8
- DirectorSergio LeoneStarsClint EastwoodEli WallachLee Van CleefA bounty hunting scam joins two men in an uneasy alliance against a third in a race to find a fortune in gold buried in a remote cemetery.The best of the Clint Eastwood "Man With No Name" trilogy. It was a much longer film than I expected, so it dragged a little in places. Doesn't help that I saw the expanded edition - 8
- DirectorCameron CroweStarsMatt DamonScarlett JohanssonThomas Haden ChurchSet in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.A nice drama/comedy. Not spectacular, but good fun - 7
- DirectorBrad BirdStarsTom CruiseJeremy RennerSimon PeggThe IMF is shut down when it's implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, causing Ethan Hunt and his new team to go rogue to clear their organization's name.Good action movie. No real heart or drama but it kept me on the edge of my seat - 7
- DirectorGil JungerStarsHeath LedgerJulia StilesJoseph Gordon-LevittA high-school boy, Cameron, cannot date Bianca until her anti-social older sister, Kat, has a boyfriend. So, Cameron pays a mysterious boy, Patrick, to charm Kat.Not bad. It shows it's age though. Interesting seeing Julia Styles and Heath Ledger in their first major roles - 7
- DirectorBrian DannellyStarsJena MaloneMandy MooreMacaulay CulkinWhen a girl attending a Christian high school becomes pregnant, all of her former friends turn on her and she is ostracized and demonized.7
- DirectorSergio LeoneStarsClint EastwoodLee Van CleefGian Maria VolontèTwo bounty hunters with the same intentions team up to track down a gang of outlaws led by a psychotic Mexican bandit, who is plotting an audacious bank robbery.7
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleTom HardyAnne HathawayEight years after the Joker's reign of chaos, Batman is coerced out of exile with the assistance of the mysterious Selina Kyle in order to defend Gotham City from the vicious guerrilla terrorist Bane.I liked it, but there are a number of plot holes that I knew were there going in, and some I noticed while watching the film. The Dark Knight is still the strongest of the three C. Nolan Batman films. It might be because of the same reason that The Empire Strikes Back is the strongest of the original Star Wars films. It is the hero's fall from grace that makes it so interesting. While this film, which depicts the hero's redemption doesn't feel quite as fleshed out. I did enjoy it quite a bit regardless of the plot holes - 7
- DirectorRichard CurtisStarsPhilip Seymour HoffmanBill NighyNick FrostA band of rogue DJs that captivated Britain, playing the music that defined a generation and standing up to a government that wanted classical music, and nothing else, on the airwaves.I saw the American version of this film entitled "Pirate Radio". I had never heard of this film before seeing it, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. The characters are quirky and lovable - 7
- DirectorJonathan LevineStarsJoseph Gordon-LevittSeth RogenAnna KendrickInspired by a true story, a comedy centered on a 27-year-old guy who learns of his cancer diagnosis and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease.An interesting drama/comedy. I had some issues with the plot, but I did enjoy how Seth Rogan's character added light-hearted comedy to his fiend's tragic circumstances - 7
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsWinona RyderCatherine O'HaraMartin ShortWhen a boy's beloved dog passes away suddenly, he attempts to bring the animal back to life through a powerful science experiment.I enjoyed this film. It isn't without it's flaws, but I had a good time. I especially enjoyed the numerous homages to classic horror films like Frankenstein and Nosferatu - 7
- DirectorFrank DarabontStarsThomas JaneMarcia Gay HardenLaurie HoldenA freak storm unleashes a species of bloodthirsty creatures on a small town, where a small band of citizens hole up in a supermarket and fight for their lives.Stayed pretty faithful to the original novella by Stephen King, but with an ending that even Mr. King admits is better than his own. The first time I read the novella I thought it would make an awesome film. And I was happy to see that my favourite scene from the book made it into the film. It suffers from a little overuse of digital creatures but it was enjoyable nonetheless - 7
- DirectorJoe WrightStarsSaoirse RonanCate BlanchettEric BanaA sixteen-year-old girl who was raised by her father to be the perfect assassin is dispatched on a mission across Europe, tracked by a ruthless intelligence agent and her operatives.Interesting shot and acted action film - 7
- DirectorPeter LordJeff NewittStarsHugh GrantSalma HayekJeremy PivenPirate Captain sets out on a mission to defeat his rivals Black Bellamy and Cutlass Liz for the Pirate of the year Award. The quest takes Captain and his crew from the shores of Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London.Cute little film. Nothing spectacular, but there is some fun to be had - 7
- DirectorNicholas StollerStarsJason SegelEmily BluntChris PrattOne year after meeting, Tom proposes to his girlfriend, Violet, but unexpected events keep tripping them up as they look to walk down the aisle together.The movie felt a little disjointed with its mixture of slapstick comedy and drama. The dramatic scenes felt out of place. Also, this movie was far too long for a romantic comedy. Some extra trimming is required - 6
- DirectorSergio LeoneStarsClint EastwoodGian Maria VolontèMarianne KochA wandering gunfighter plays two rival families against each other in a town torn apart by greed, pride, and revenge.It is tough to get around the fact that these spaghetti westerns are filmed without sound and then dubbed later. I did enjoy seeing the first of the "Man With No Name" films, but this one is rather forgettable in my honest opinion - 6
- DirectorGuy RitchieStarsRobert Downey Jr.Jude LawJared HarrisDetective Sherlock Holmes is on the trail of criminal mastermind Professor Moriarty, who is carrying out a string of random crimes across Europe.Not quite as good as the original. I had the unfortunate circumstance of sitting in the front row of the theatre for this one. Maybe I'll like it better if I see it again - 6
- StarsRichard CoyleCharles DanceDavid SuchetA con artist is conned into taking the job as Postmaster General in the Ankh-Morpork Post Office.Marginally better than "The Colour of Magic" - 6
- DirectorJon FavreauStarsDaniel CraigHarrison FordOlivia WildeA spaceship arrives in 1873 Arizona to take over the Earth, starting with the Wild West region. All that stands in their way: a posse of cowboys and natives.Not horrible, but not very good either. The western elements are well done, but the alien elements were generic and boring - 6
- DirectorGenndy TartakovskyStarsAdam SandlerKevin JamesAndy SambergDracula, who operates a high-end resort away from the human world, goes into overprotective mode when a boy discovers the resort and falls for the count's teenaged daughter.This film was cute. It isn't perfect, and some of the running gags that the creators obviously thought were hilarious just weren't. But there are enough laughs for kids and adults to stay entertained - 6
- DirectorLeonard FarlingerStarsRossif SutherlandKarine VanasseDon McKellarA road movie romance that conjures a heady concoction of free love and end of the world conspiracy.Interesting little dramatic road movie. Nothing spectacular, but it was adequate enough to waste some time on - 6
- DirectorWilliam ShatnerStarsWilliam ShatnerPatrick StewartAvery BrooksThe Captains is a feature length documentary film written and directed by William Shatner. The film follows Shatner as he interviews the other actors who have portrayed Starship captains within the illustrious science-fiction franchise.William Shatner's documentary that looks at all of the actors who have played commanders in the Star Trek TV series and films. I liked seeing where these actors are now, with their life and careers. I do find that Shatner has a tendency to interrupt the interviewee, which gets a little annoying - 6
- DirectorChris RenaudKyle BaldaStarsZac EfronTaylor SwiftDanny DeVitoA 12-year-old boy searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.I like the environmental message that this film conveys, but that's it - 5
- DirectorTroy NixeyStarsKatie HolmesGuy PearceBailee MadisonA young girl sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend believes that she has released creatures from a sealed ash pit in the basement of her new home.I had high hopes for this as it was produced by Guillermo del Toro, but the whole movie fell flat. It certainly showed his style, but none of his usual substance - 5
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsJohnny DeppMichelle PfeifferEva GreenAn imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, is set free and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection.The film started out okay, but in the end I was just waiting expectantly for it to be over. I am a big fan of Chloe Grace Moretz and she was so underutilized in this film. Her big reveal at the end was just plain stupid. This film also wins the award for the most predictable "cliff-hanger" ending of the decade - 5
- StarsDavid JasonSean AstinTim CurryA cowardly wizard is roped into a life of adventure. A tale from the first two books of Terry Pratchett's fantasy series "Discworld".I am afraid to say that Terry Pratchett's humour does not translate to live action. Although it was fun to see the Discworld realized on screen, everything from the acting to the special effects just fell flat - 5
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsJared GilmanKara HaywardBruce WillisTwo 12-year-olds, who live on an island, fall in love with each other and elope into the wilderness. While people set out on a search mission, a violent storm approaching them catches their attention.I had such high expectations for this movie after reading so many glowing reviews. The problem with this movie is that there is far too much style and not enough substance. It is pretty to look at and the dialog and acting are all very stylized, but that's it. The story is ridiculous and it contains characters that just seem out of place and unemotional towards what is going on. There are many scenes that were obviously thrown in for no reason whatsoever. The two lead actors are both in their first movie and are expected to carry the film but unfortunatly their acting was downright awful at points. I believe that paedophiles are going to get a kick out of this film due to the sensual scene involving the 12-year-old protagonists - 5
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsDaniel CraigRooney MaraChristopher PlummerJournalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for 40 years by young computer hacker Lisbeth Salander.I don't understand the hype surrounding this film. I was confused about the shocking nature of Lisbeth's life and why it needed to be a part of the story being told. Her story prior to meeting Daniel Craig's character has absolutely no bearing on the main mystery being told. I had a hard time believing that a person such as her could be a miracle-working surveillance expert. Learning where she learned her craft (If it could be made believable) would have been much more interesting than what was told about her in this film. I also found that the mystery itself wasn't very hard to figure out long before the big reveal - 5
- DirectorJ.J. AbramsStarsElle FanningAJ MichalkaKyle ChandlerDuring the summer of 1979, a group of friends witness a train crash and investigate subsequent unexplained events in their small town.This film suffers from an identity crisis. On one hand J.J. Abrams is trying to show his love for Super 8 film making, but at the same time he is trying to remake E.T. None of the child actors were overly convincing in their roles and their relationships to each other. The adults in the film just seemed to be along for the ride and at the end their differences and their reconciliation added nothing to the film - 5
- DirectorCraig GillespieStarsAnton YelchinColin FarrellDavid Tennant"Fright Night" - A new neighbor moves in next to Charley, who discovers that he is an ancient vampire who preys on the community. Can he save his neighborhood from the creature with the help of the famous "vampire killer", Peter Vincent?Awful remake of the 1985 classic horror-comedy. Part of the charm of the original was how no one believed Charlie when he told everyone that his neighbour was a vampire and this film doesn't have that conflict. Don't bother with this one. One more thing. Could everyone please stop using Christopher Mintz-Plasse in their films. That guy is awful in everything he does - 4
- DirectorMichael DowseStarsSeann William ScottJay BaruchelAlison PillLabeled an outcast by his brainy family, a bouncer overcomes long odds to lead a team of under performing misfits to semi-pro hockey glory, beating the crap out of everything that stands in his way.Might as well have called this one "Slap Shot: Part Deux" although they already made sequels to Slap Shot. There isn't much offered by this film and it really tries to show hockey with much more emphasis on fighting than the sport really does. If you actually enjoy hockey for the game then this is not the film for you as there isn't much hockey to be found here - 4
- DirectorWes CravenStarsNeve CampbellCourteney CoxDavid ArquetteTen years have passed, and Sidney Prescott, who has put herself back together thanks in part to her writing, is visited by the Ghostface Killer.Awful. This should not have been made - 4
- DirectorAndrew StantonStarsTaylor KitschLynn CollinsWillem DafoeTransported to Barsoom, a Civil War vet discovers a barren planet seemingly inhabited by 12-foot tall barbarians. Finding himself prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter Woola and a princess in desperate need of a savior.A protagonist I didn't have any reason to like, and an antagonist I had no reason to hate. This was a disjointed mess and I walked away from the TV after 40 minutes. The rest of my family watched to the end, and they were sorry that they did so - 3
- DirectorAdam GreenStarsKane HodderJoel David MooreDeon RichmondWhen a group of tourists in a New Orleans haunted swamp tour find themselves stranded in the wilderness, their evening of fun and spooks turns into a horrific nightmare.What a mess. This was supposed to be a return to the classic American horror. Made with no digital effects, real physical make up, etc. While some of the kill scenes were quite inventive, the main antagonist was bland and boring. The best horror films keep the "monster" in the shadows to add to the suspense, but there is very little of that here. Gore fans will love the kills, but the rest of the film sucks - 3
- DirectorTimur BekmambetovStarsBenjamin WalkerRufus SewellDominic CooperAbraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, discovers vampires are planning to take over the United States. He makes it his mission to eliminate them.Awful. Takes a poignant moment in American history and turns it into an utter mess. Avoid this at all costs - 2
- DirectorScott SpiegelStarsKip PardueBrian HallisayJohn HensleyFour men attending a bachelor party in Las Vegas fall prey to the Elite Hunting Club, who are hosting a gruesome game show of torture.Ugh! I actually enjoyed the first Hostel for what it was, but this is downright horrible and insulting to the audience. The scene where one of the characters are killed by bugs is so utterly unbelievable that it ruined the entire film for me - 1
- DirectorMichael FeiferStarsDean CainGary ValentineMario LopezThe Bannister family's new addition, Zeus (voiced by Mario Lopez of TV's SAVED BY THE BELL), the yellow Labrador, appears to be less than the dependable guard dog the family needs. However, when two burglars set out to break into the Bannister's home while they're away for Christmas, Zeus seizes the chance to be a hero, proving every dog - even this one - has his day. Dean Cain (TV's LOIS and CLARK), Gary Valentine (TV's THE KING OF QUEENS), Elisa Donovan (CLUELESS, TV's SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH), Mindy Sterling (AUSTIN POWERS), and Adrienne Barbeau (MAUDE, CARINVALE) also lend their voices in this heart-warming holiday movie.Ugh! Horrible Home Alone clone. Badly acted, badly directed, bad everything - 1