Time to rank the ten movies I saw this past year. Before you get upset and wonder why I left your favorite movie out, it’s because I didn’t see it. As the father of Twin girls, the owner of his own successful small business and the author of the upcoming novel The Hand of God (see how I worked in a shameless plug? Coming later this month from Hydra Publications) I have little time to go to the movies. Add in the cost of babysitters and how you get only coins from a twenty when you buy popcorn and a drink, the mere fact I got to see ten of them is nothing short of amazing.
So here are my rankings with a blurb about each. Post your list in the comment section and let me know where you agree or disagree. What was your favorite movie of the past year?
Daniel Craig is back in one of the best Bond movies of all time and the best movie I saw this past year. The action, plot and beautiful scenery made for a fantastic night at the movies. Judi Dench, Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes are all wonderfully cast.
Joss Whedon directed this comic book action smash up (any movie which features the Hulk, will have plenty of smashing going on) and falls just barely out of my top spot. This movie was just plain, flat-out fun. The dialogue is snappy, the action is top notch and you get to see all your favorites: Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye. Did I mention Scarlett Johansson? Dressed all in black? Thought so.
Peter Jackson is back in Middle Earth, Gollum is still after his Precious and Bilbo and Frodo lives. The biggest controversy concerning this movie is it being filmed in 48 frames per second, as opposed to the standard 24. Let me say: I LOVE IT!!! Some complain it shows the flaws in the movie making business due to how crystal clear the picture appears. I say it will push movie makers to make even BETTER movies.
The movie stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen and Richard Armitage, among many, many others.
If you’re a fan of the books by Lee Child, as I am, then you are prepared to HATE this movie. Jack Reacher is six foot five inches tall and nearly two-hundred and fifty pounds. Tom Cruise, the man playing Reacher in the movie, struggles to reach five foot seven and weighs less than my left leg. Having said that, the movie was very enjoyable. Cruise gets the essence of the character correct and the movie itself does the book it is based on, One Shot, justice. It also stars Rosamund Pike and Werner Herzog. What your fingers around Herzog. He has issues.
I think this movie is the second best of the three Christopher Nolan, coming in behind The Dark Knight and ahead of Batman Begins. To say this Dark Knight is dark, is an understatement. Anne Hathaway shines in her part as Catwoman, Selina Kyle. Christian Bale is back as the Batman and Tom Hardy is down right vicious as Bane, even if you can’t understand what he says in the movie half the time. Gary Oldman, and Joseph Gordon Levitt (future Robin?) also star.
There is no doubt the Twins would pick this Disney Pixar movie as their favorite. I could sit and listen to someone with a Scottish accent read the phone book. The only question I have for you is, if you could change your fate, would’ya? Classic animated movie and one I really enjoyed. The movie features the voices of Kelly MacDonald, Billy Connolly, and Emma Thompson.
I have to offer a disclaimer. I like baseball movies. Bull Durham is my favorite, followed by Field of Dreams, The Natural and Eight Men Out. Trouble with the Curve is not as good as any of these. The movie is predictable and there will be no surprises. And yet I still enjoyed the movie. The interplay between Clint Eastwood and Amy Adams, who plays his daughter, is worth watching. And while I don’t like admitting this in public, I really enjoyed how well Justin Timberlake acted in this movie. There are no surprises here. But I bet you still like it.
Matt Damon is nowhere to be found in this latest edition of the Bourne series. Jeremy Renner takes over in the main action sequence playing Aaron Cross, Black Briar, the black op program which everyone decides to shut down. The first half of the movie is very slow, as they go into a lot of back story. The second half of the movie is the kind of Bourne movie we’ve all grown accustomed to watching. Rachel Weisz and Ed Norton are along for the ride.
I love Spider-man. Growing up, he was by far my favorite super hero. I enjoyed all three Tobey Maguire Spider-man movies. I didn’t love this one. I liked it, not loved it. I think Andrew Garfield is a great Peter Parker. I loved Emma Stone as Gwen Stacey. Rhys Ifans is good as the Lizard. The problem was the decision to retell so much of the original back story. Been there, seen that. The second half of the movie, much like The Bourn Legacy, was much better. Bring on the next one. I’ll be in line waiting.
I give the people behind this one an A for effort. This is NOT your grandmothers Snow White. The story line is very bold and dark. It just didn’t work for me. Kristen Stewart stars as the Disney princess and adds her stamp to the character. She looks great brooding. She looks great when she’s sad. And, in the occasional flash of joy, she still looks great. She looks great in armor. I just didn’t care for the acting. Perhaps it’s just me. I’ve never seen the Twilight movies and probably never will.
Chris Hemsworth does a decent job as The Huntsman and Charlize Theron is delightfully evil as the Queen trying to stay young forever. Perhaps I was just not in the right frame of mind when I saw this one, as I’ve heard they’re doing a second movie. I’m sure I’ll watch. After all, Kristen Stewart does look good doing just about anything.
Tony Acree 
I think Dean and I saw all these movies with you except for Brave! Here’s to another year of movie viewing!
We have quite a list this year. Iron man III, Thor 2, man of steel, the hobbit 2 just for a start. What was your favorite movie?
I saw all of these except Trouble with the Curve and Brave. I enjoyed all of them, but probably my top two favorites of the year are movies you didn’t see – Lincoln and Moonrise Kingdom. While both of these couldn’t be more different, they both are excellent in their own right.
I do plan to see Lincoln at the theater. I’ll wait to see Moonrise Kingdom on DVD, but do want to see it. I will have to do a DVD list. I hear Lincoln is outstanding.