Best and Worst Movies of 2012 - View on Film

Happy New Year everyone! 

2012 was a great year for movies, and I had a tough time compiling my list....but here is the best and worst of 2012.

Have a great New Year, be safe, and we'll see you in 2013!

Cheers!

Jason

Django Unchained - View on Film

Django Unchained-

Good last Friday of 2012.  I finally got to see Quentin Tarantino's latest, Django Unchained.  Not as good as the perfect Inglourious Bastards, but still a wonderful film.  A little long, but worth your 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Have a great weekend, and an early Happy New Year!

Cheers!


Jason

The Guilt Trip- View on Film

The Guilt Trip-

Good Friday everyone!  Hope you are well and enjoying the world not ending today.  Here's my review of Seth Rogan's, latest....The Guilt Trip!

Have a great weekend!

Jason

The Hobbit - View on Film

Good Friday everyone!

The Hobbit-

I admire the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, but it is a disconnect with me personally.  Will the Hobbit be the same?  See my review below.

Have a great weekend!

Jason

New on DVD 12/11 - View on Film

Good day!  We have a load of movies for you today!

First up, one of the Best Comedy Films of the year.


Ted-

I howled at this naughty movie.  Mark Wahlberg is fantastic, in both his action and comedy films.  The is for the adults....and it's a riot.  My original review below.

The Bourne Legacy-

An OK sequel to the Bourne Trilogy....without Matt Damon this time.  It does take a while to get going, and it's not as action packed as the previous movies, but I still think its worth a watch.

My original review is below.

Ice Age: Continental Drift-

This movie is the number 2 money maker on the year internationally, just behind the Avengers.  I really didn't dig it, but it is good family entertainment.  Just don't expect Pixar type goodness.  My original review is below.  Have a great weekend!  See you Friday with my review of the Hobbit!

Cheers!

Jason

Playing for Keeps - View on Film

Playing for Keeps-

Hello there!  Here's my look at Gerard Butler in Playing for Keeps....a movie that while not being so bad....is so run of the mill, I wonder how they got funding for it!

Enjoy your weekend!

Cheers!

Jason

Star Trek Into Darkness Teaser - View on Film

2009's Star Trek was such a surprise....at how good and fun it was...also, it reached a much wider audience that Trek ever had.

Here's the first look at the sequel....with the bad guys identity still unknown!

Enjoy!

New on DVD 12/4 - View on Film

Good Day.....here's whats new this week on DVD....with one HUGE release!

The Dark Knight Rises-

In the finale of one of the finest trilogies ever, comes the epic Dark Knight Rises.  It is a different film from the Dark Knight, but it is a fine example of film making.  I loved it, and I love this series.  See my original review below.

And now, two films which came and went......

The Odd Life of Timothy Green-

For a Disney film, this came and went without much fanfare this year.  The response to it wasn't much better....it rated a 39% Fresh Rating from Rottentomatoes.com.  If you're desperate for a family film, this is it.

Hope Springs-

Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones star in a story about a married couple that has drifted apart, and look to get help from therapist Steve Carell.  I'll be checking this out soon.  It got 73% from Rottentomatoes.com.

Have a great week!

Cheers!

Jason

Killing Them Softly - View on Film

Killing Them Softly-

Good Friday!  I've been a big Brad Pitt fan for a long time, and he's really good in this mob drama....but the movie?  That's a different story.

Have a great weekend!

Cheers!

Jason

New on DVD - Week of 11/27

Good day!

Hope you survived Thanksgiving and Black Friday!  Big list for new releases this week!

Men in Black 3- (Note: Released Friday 11/30)

Another of the Summer Blockbusters comes to video.  This was OK.  The performances were good, but the film just didn't have a very coherent story line.

Below is my original review.

 Lawless-

 Another good, not great movie.  Tom Hardy as usual is very good in this period drama.  Below is my original review.

ParaNorman-

It's another, didn't that film just come out in the theaters release.  It got good notices though, with an 86% fresh rating on Rottentomatoes.com.  Good for kids who like a little macabre with their movies.

Sparkle-

And finally, the late Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks star in Sparkle.  This came out in late August, and has a 58% fresh rating on Rottentomatoes.com.

That's it for a busy video week.

Have a great week!


Jason

Red Dawn - View on Film

Red Dawn-

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!  Part of my long weekend, was Red Dawn.  It is unfortunately rivaling The Watch as the worst film of the year.  My review is below.

Have a great rest of your Turkey Day weekend!

Cheers!

Jason

Lincoln - View on Film

Lincoln-

Here's an extra View on Film for the Holidays.  Lincoln from Steven Spielberg is a great film, that reminds me of why I do, what I do.  Daniel Day Lewis channels the Abraham Lincoln, proving again that he is simply a world class actor.  The movie is 2 and a half hours, and is all about the politics of passing the 13th amendment, banning slavery.  If you're expecting any action, you will be disappointed.  I however was not by a long shot.  Below is my review.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Cheers!

Jason

New DVD for 11/20 - View on Film

Good day!  Only one big release this week....but it's a good actioner!

Expendables 2-

Listen, this movie isn't art, but I got a kick out of it.  The first action sequence is extremely good....and Jean Claude Van Damme is really good in his return to the big screen. 

Here's my original review!

Have a safe Thanksgiving week.  I'll have a special Wednesday review tomorrow of Lincoln!

Cheers,

Jason

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 - View on Film

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2-

Here it is, the finale of the Twilight saga.  The Star Wars if you will for legions of women.  I found this series at times OK, and at times tedious.  My thoughts on the finale are below.

Have a great weekend!

Cheers!

Jason

New on DVD 11/13 - View on Film

Good day!  Kind of a mixed bag for DVD this week....some good.....and the worst film of 2012 so far!


Brave-

As usual, the Pixar film looks gorgeous, but the movie didn't grab me as others have.  It is a good movie, and nice to see a strong female lead, but expect good, not great with Brave.  Below is my original review.

The Watch-

Watch for this in my year end special, it is most likely the WORST film of the year....and with this talent, it's a shame.  My original review is below.

Savages-

Oliver Stone returns to direct a film about the drug trade, with lots of stars, but a mediocre 51% fresh rating from Rottentomatoes.com.


That's it for this week!

Enjoy, and see you Friday with a look at Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2.  (I know you can't wait!)

Cheers!

Jason

Skyfall - View on Film

Skyfall-

Yay!  After the mediocre last James Bond Entry, 2008's Quantum of Solace, the buzz on this latest entry has been super positive. And I agree!  Below is my full review.

Have a great weekend!

Jason

New on DVD 11/9 - View on Film

Good day everyone!  We are late with the DVD Releases, because the big release is on a Friday!

The Amazing Spider-Man-

In the reboot of old Spidey.  I think the acting is much better here than the previous films, but the story is not that strong.  Some people loved this adaption, I however was not one of those.  Good, not great.  Below is my original review.

 

Arthur Christmas-

A Holiday movie which came out last year.  It didn't make much of a splash last year, but the kid's movie got a very strong 91% from Rottentomatoes.com.


Good week all, and stay warm this weekend!

Jason

Flight - View on Film

Flight-

Oh my goodness, Director Robert Zemeckis returns to live action after about a decade with computer animation....and he has Denzel Washington along for the ride in one of the best films of 2012.  Below is my review.  Have a great weekend!

Jason

New on DVD 10/30 - View on Film

Good day!

As per usual with a Holiday near release day, it's a light week for new DVD's.  Things will slow down until mid-November, when the Christmas push hits.

The Campaign- 

Two comedic actors, who have similar styles, team up in this political farce, the Campaign.  Timely release strategy, just a week from the Presidential election.  Rottentomatoes.com gives it a 67% Fresh Rating.

Have a great week!

Jason

Cloud Atlas - View on Film

Cloud Atlas-

Wow is this a tough movie to review.  I really applaud the guts to make a 3 Hour, 100 million dollar plus Art House Picture.  There's a lot to like....but there's no meat on the bones.  My full review is below.

Have a great weekend!

Jason

New on DVD 10/23 - View on Film

Good day everyone.  Another week, more DVD's!  A little something for everyone this week.

Magic Mike-

Kind of the movie equivalent of 50 Shades of Grey, this is the darkside of the male stripper story starring Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey.  Ocean's Eleven director Steven Soderbergh is at the helm here.  Rottentomatoes.com gives it a very fresh 79% rating.

Abraham Lincoln- Vampire Hunter-

Not to be confused with the Lincoln bio-pic coming later this year from Speilberg.  This was from the Wanted director, that didn't really connect with audiences in the theater.  This should do fine on home video however.  Rottentomatoes.com gives it a low 35% fresh rating.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World-

If you were asking, where has Steve Carell been?  He did have this release during the Summer which closed quite quickly.  It's kind of a one man's look at what would happen when you know the end of the world is nigh.  Rottentomatoes.com was mixed, with a 55% fresh rating.

That's it for this week!   Join me Friday with my look at Tom Hanks, and Cloud Atlas.

Cheers!

Jason

Iron Man 3 Trailer! - View on Film

Iron Man 3 Trailer-

Wow....or first look at a Marvel Film post Avengers.  Iron Man 3 is the beginning of Phase 2....ending the 2015 with Avengers 2.

Here's the first look at Writer/Director Shane Black's Iron Man 3.  Look dark and good.

Enjoy!

Jason

(Note: This is the British Trailer, so it says April.....like the Avengers, they get it early...we get it 5/3/13)

Paranormal Activity 4 - View on Film

Paranormal Activity 4-

I am a big fan of the first 3 in this series....but the franchise has apparently run out of gas with the latest...find out why below.

Have a great weekend...and stay warm!

Cheers!

Jason

New on DVD 10/16 - View on Film

Good Day!  Hope the Fall weather is agreeing with you.  Busy time of the year with really good sports on TV seemingly everyday.  But, there's always time for the movies!  Here's what's new this week on DVD.

That's My Boy-

Adam Sandler returns, this time as the wayward father to SNLs Video Short auteur Adam Sandberg.  Looks like more of the same from Sandler and company.  Rottentomatoes.com gives it a 21% Fresh Rating.

Moonrise Kingdom-

Another unique Wes Anderson film graces us this week.  Starring the likes of Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, and much more.  Rottentomatoes.com gives it a stellar 94% Fresh Rating. I'm looking forward to giving this a shot.

Madgascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted-

I have missed the Madagascar franchise, but it does seem to keep rolling on!  I've never even seen this on cable.  Nonetheless, it appears to be quality entertainment.  Rottentomatoes.com gives it a 74% Fresh Rating.


Have a great week!  I'll have a look at Paranormal Activity 4 this Friday.

Cheers!

Jason

Argo - View on Film

Argo-

Hello everyone!  A movie with huge hype going into it.  Does the Affleck film live up to the buzz?  Check out my review below.

Cheers!

Jason

New on DVD 10/9 - View on Film

Good Day!

Got a few new releases out.  Also, in theater this week is the highly buzzed about Argo.  The true story about a wild plot to get Americans out of Iran in the 70's has people talking Oscar.  I'll be seeing that Thursday night, and have my review up Friday.

In the meantime, here's whats new this week!

Prometheus-

A visually arresting movie, that just didn't quite make it for me.  Definitely an A for effort by Ridley Scott.  Michael Fassbender again proves he is one of our best actors today.  AND, this movie has the creepiest scene I've seen a many a moon.  Below is my original review.

Rock of Ages-

An attempt to recapture the music of the 80's.  It didn't resonate with audiences, but I will eventually check it out.  Rottentomatoes.com gives it a 41% Fresh Rating.

The Raven-

John Cusack continues to work in offbeat films with the Raven.  He stars as Edgar Allen Poe, who must help catch a killer who is using his stories as a method of their murders.  Fun premise, that I will catch up on this week.  Rottentomatoes.com though, gives it a 22% Fresh Rating.  I'll still check it out though!  ;)

That's it for this week!

Enjoy, and I'll see you Monday.

Jason

Taken 2 - View on Film

Taken 2-

Liam Neeson is back as a Dad, who has a "special set of skills" that come into good use when he, and his ex-wife are abducted.  See my review below.

Have a great weekend!

Cheers!

J

New on DVD 10/2 - View on Film

Good day!  We're getting more of the Summer movies on DVD this week.

Dark Shadows-

One of the biggest disappointments of the Summer.  Johnny Depp is good as the Star Crossed Vampire, but the script fails the good cast.  Below is my original review.

People Like Us-

Star Trek's Captain Kirk, Chris Pine stars as a man who finds out he has a sister after his father dies.  He seeks to find out who she is, and why his father kept it a secret.  Rottentomatoes.com gives it a 57% Fresh Rating.

Enjoy your week!

Cheers!

Jason

Trouble with the Curve- View on Film

Trouble with the Curve-

Good day everyone!  Here's my look at the good but a bit corny Trouble with the Curve with Clint Eastwood.  Have a great weekend!

Cheers!

Jason

New on DVD 9/25 - View on Film

Good Day!  Well, the biggest film of the year is out on DVD and Blu Ray.....below is my original review on the Avengers, plus my original thoughts on why it was a milestone for me personally.  Do check out the movie, it is really super fun.

Also new this week, all 22 Bond films on Blu Ray!  This boxed set is sure to be a coveted present for the holiday season!  The James Bond producers always put out a superior home video product....If you don't have these films yet, and are a fan, you should check it out.


As promised, my original review, and posting for the Avengers, from May 4th, 2012-

View on Film Extra- Why is this Important?

What makes the Avengers such a watershed moment for yours truly?  It started with my first comic book, Avengers 221.....and continued with a filmmaker who made us believe in Slayers, and that a Vampire could have a soul.

For some reason in my youth, one day I decided I needed to start reading super hero comics.  I was about 10 years old.  My Dad, who always wanted to help his son out, took me to a convenience store on the North side of Spokane Washington, and we got Avengers 221.  That was it.  Love at first sight!  So I got a subscription, which I would not recommend for anyone!  It was always slow and late.  So once that finally ended, I found the Comic Rack.  A comic oasis in Spokane.  There, I could finally get my Comics fix,  and the Avengers were always on the forefront of my purchases.  (I eventually started shopping at Merlyn's in Downtown Spokane....where I have shopped for about 25 years.  John Waite is the main man there.  I've known him longer than almost anyone else I know!  Free Comic Book Day is Tomorrow, May 5th....stop by and get some free stuff!)

So I became engrossed in the back history of the Avengers, and essentially had a ball doing it.  I've had some gaps in the 30 years since, but I've been a faithful reader for most of that time.

When the rumblings started about an actual Avengers movie coming to the screen, I asked myself who would I dream about directing it.  No kidding, there was only one name, Joss Whedon.  Damned if that's not exactly what happened. 

Joss Whedon is a master as making groups cohesive and work in the TV and Film medium.  Just watch any of the shows he wrote/directed.  Buffy/Angel/Firefly all had the essential ingredients that would make the Avengers work.  Also, he has written an X-men comic for two years, so he obviously knew what Iron Man was what.  (Here's a Great Profile on Joss in GQ , and here's a look at his work from Rolling Stone)

So last night, the movie finally came.....and it was a combination of my love for the source material AND the filmmaker which has made it something special.  Listen, I love movies.  This is what I do.  And the Avengers is a reminder of why.

End of Watch - View on Film

End of Watch-

Good Friday everyone.......End of Watch is the new film this week...and it's terrific!  See my full review below.

Enjoy your weekend!

Cheers!

Jason