DREAM TITLE: Underworld: Declination DREAM DIRECTOR: Mans Marlind & Bjorn Stein DREAM CAST: Kate Beckinsale (Selene), Scott Speedman (Michael), Michael Sheen (Lucian), Kate Bosworth (New, older, Eve), Theo James (David), Alex Pettyfer, Michael Ealy (D. Sebastian), Sophia Myles (Erika), Rhona Mitra (Sonja), Steven Mackintosh (Tanis), Kevin Grevioux (Raze), Bill Nighy (Victor), Tony Curran (Marcus), Zita Gorog (Amelia), Charles Dance (Thomas),Tobin Bell, Wentworth Miller (Dr. Lockwood), Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Jacob Blair (Officer Kolb), and Brian Steele (William) DREAM PLOT: Eight years after the events of Awakening - Selene has found Michael, and Eve is all grown up with David as her mate. Antigen has since been disbanded, but the Lycans are now more powerful than ever. In their investigation, D. Sebastian and Officer Kolb find what appears to be one of the largest dens of Lycans ever recorded. Its ranks are not mostly males, but powerful females (Jovivich/Rodriguez) led by an elder Lycan (Bell) and his son (Pettyfer). In the fear that the Lycans are strategically breeding an undefeatable army to whipout both humans and vampires, Selene and Michael begin building their own army for the last stand of the war. However, upon entering the gain Lycan den, the group is presented with something that they never expected, as the den has been harboring - a very much alive - Lucian, who with the help of Antigen technology, has become the most powerful hybrid in all existance. DREAM SCENE: Selene stops Eve from going to David's rescue, as she watchs Lucian tortures and burn him. After the final fight sequence is over, Eve breaks her ties with her parents and swears revenge. [Setting up the story for a sixth film.] SHOULD FEEL LIKE: UNDERWORLD!!!!!! However, bring back everyone in some degree. Flashbacks or anything. Fifth movies are becoming awesome now because the filmmakers are bring back so many people. That is exactly what this franchise needs! WILL IT EVER HAPPEN: I'm pretty sure that Underworld 5 will happen at some point. I'm not sure about this story though. I think it might be to big. It would be pretty awesome though. :D
2012 has been a really good year at the box office. Regardless of whether or not you can judge a year in the first month, the fact remains that January 2012 currently has a three week winning streak in comparison to January 2011. I would assume that a lot of the thanks belongs to Paramounts decent showing for The Devil Inside, Universals' Contraband, Fox's Red Tails, and Sony's Underworld: Awakening. The real trick is going to be this upcoming weekend. Last year, the number one film was The Rite with a decent $14.7 million on its opening weekend. (It went on to make roughly $33.1 million in the domestic box office and $96.0 worldwide.) It was followed by the stronger than expected No Strings Attached with $13.4 million, The Mechanic with $11.4 million, The Green Hornet with $11.1 million, and The Kings' Speech with $11.0 million. That is five movies topping the $10 million dollar mark in a single weekend of January. Not such an easy task. For a simple comparision, this year has only managed to bring four movies to over $10 million in a single weekend. In order for 2012 to continue its winning ways, at least one of the movies opening this weekend has to break out in a big way. Although, I believe The Grey has the biggest chance at doing this, I don't think it is going to happen unless something unexpected occurs. What is is about Liam Neeson? The man went from being an Oscar worthy actor into an action star approaching his sixties. The Grey marks Neeson's third early year action thriller to be released in the last four years. Both Taken ($145 million) and Unknown ($63 million) were able to ride Neeson's new action chops all the way to the bank. However, a lot of people don't seem to think that The Grey will be able to do the same. I'm not really sure why this is because the reviews are currently good. There is even talk that Open Road Films will be giving The Grey a mid-October re-release to keep Neeson's performance in the running for an Oscar nomination. Nevertheless, the idea that the relatively new Open Road Films is the distributor behind The Grey might be the thing is troubling to some people. Prehaps, the young studio doesn't have what it takes to open a movie in the high $20s right now. Yet, I'm still a little more optimistic than a lot of other people about this movie. I might not always be right on the money with these predictions, but I enjoy making them when I can. I'm going to say that The Grey will take number one with a healthy/surprising $18.5 million. I don't think that it will have enough front loaded energy to get it over the $20s, but I think it might be worthy of more than people are currently giving it. We will have a clearer picture on Saturday. The race for second place will be a little harder to pick. I've always been a fan of the Underworld series, but they tend to fall close to 60% on their second weekends. At the same time, Red Tails is expected to hold up pretty well during the weekend. Honestly, I don't really see Red Tails holding up as well as everyone would suspect. Plus, Underworld now has 3D and IMAX helping cushion its second weekend drop. I'm going to give the edge to Underworld with $11.8 million with $11.6 million for Red Tails to make a close third place. Man on the Ledge and One for the Money will fight for fourth and fifth place. The only funning thing about this is that Man on the Ledge is owned by Summit and One for the Money is owned by Lionsgate. Those two companies are now under the same roof. This type of thing never happens, but I'm sure there was no time to really change the scheduling before the deal was made. I'm going with Man on the Ledge with a respectable $10.5 million. This will be followed by One for the money with $9.0 million. Both films should fade away pretty quickly.
Okay, I have a lot of say and do on this post. I'm not going to take up any more time than I'm already planning. Just for your own benfit. I have really thought about the list this year. I'm going to be a little harsh at time, and I believe every film deserves its place. Have fun reading!
25) FINAL DESTINATION:
Plot: Survivors of a suspension-bridge collapse learn there's no way you can cheat Death. My Thoughts: I have come around to the idea of Hollywood putting together endless amount of sequels. In my opinion, if sequels have the chance of being entertaining than they are worth going to see. 2011 wasn’t short on sequels, prequels, or spin-offs; however, every few of them were really fun to actually watch. That is why the twenty-fifth spot on this list goes to one of the most surprising sequels of the last decade. The Final Destination franchise is known for having an outrageous amount of terrible sequels. (I myself have found little pleasure in the viewing any of them since the second film.) Yet, there must have been something that happened in between the success of the fourth installment and the production of the fifth title, in order to create the most exciting and provocative installment in the whole series. This type of creative storytelling might not be passed on to future sequels, but this film has proven sequels aren’t always a bad idea. (A special shout out goes to Fast Five for almost making this list for the same reason. However, it was clear that Final Destination was a much greater improvement. Plus, it did so without the added benefit of a pumped up cast. Simply amazing!)
24) SUPER:
Plot: After his wife falls under the influence of a drug dealer, an everyday guy transforms himself into Crimson Bolt, a superhero with the best intentions, though he lacks for heroic skills. My Thoughts: Oh man, what type of a “best of” list is this? Frankly, I think this film is deserving of this spot. It isn’t the best film of the year, but it was one of the more entertaining. I have already said that I was going to be brutally honest with my list this year. The closer we get to the first place spot, the more influential they have been to me. I’m getting the further spots to those I found fun. Anyway, Super finishes the journey that Kick-Ass started last year. This film takes the superhero parody genre to a new dimension. Seeing Ellen Page dress up like superhero and rape Rainn Wilson might be one of the craziest scenes I have ever seen on film. The funny thing is that it actually worked. I ended up feeling for the characters in this film, and I wasn’t expecting that. If you haven’t seen Super yet… GO SEE IT! I don’t know if you will actually like it, but you should at least have fun.
23) TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT: Plot: Four years after graduation, an awkward high school genius uses his sister's boyfriend's Labor Day party as the perfect opportunity to make his move on his high school crush. My Thoughts: So, I usually think that a best of list should have at least one coming of age movie in its pickings. Take Me Home Tonight was by far the best of the year. I do actually have one question. What happened?! Wasn’t there this huge nostalgic movement for things related material? Last year we saw the coming of Nightmare on Elm Street along with Hot Tub Time Machine and so many others. The difference was that all of those movies were terrible. 2011 did the eighties right, and this movie was the best of all. Not only the look of the film, but also the story screamed eighties inspiration. Yet, there was very little love for this movie. Tropher Grace should just continue to play people based out of the seventies and eighties. I don’t really know what it is, but he continues to look like he belongs in that time period. Also, Kristen Stewart was shockingly effective in her role in this film (I haven’t seen Water for Elephants… so I’m not going to judge Robert Pattinson, but I know at least one of the main Twilight alumni will go on to have a successful career. At least… I can hope. Anna Kendrick doesn’t count because she isn’t a main character, and we know that she is a terrific actress. Taylor Lautner might just go the way of Channing Tatum. [You’re so awesome looking you keep getting chances until you learn from your mistakes. He did a fantastic job in The Dilemma, but that is for another list.]) After all of this… I believe that Take Me Home Tonight works because it doesn’t take its concept to far. It is a simple idea that has been done one to many times, but the creative talent knows that this is the case. These movies work on chemistry and there is enough of it to go around. The story is also really fun as well. 22) SUPER 8
Plot: During the summer of 1979, a group of friends witness a train crash and investigate subsequent unexplained events in their small town.
My Thoughts: I have heard a lot about this movie over the last few months. A few of my friends have said that it is by far the most fun movie they have seen this year. To steal a line from The Dark Knight, “it isn’t the movie that we need – it’s the one we deserve.” That couldn’t be truer. The film is a love letter to Spielberg and E.T. The acting is incredible, and the story is compelling. However, I really don’t think that this film is deserving of even the top twenty films of the year. Don’t get me wrong. Everyone should get a chance to see it because it is a movie that can keep your interest for its entire running time. That is something that a lot of movies simply can’t do these days. Yet, I really do think that is the only thing this movie really has going for it. There is nothing very special about the story. The only morals are after school’ish theme, and the pay off is loose after the whole film. That being said, the overall product is beyond any of the other strictly blockbuster type films of the year. It deserves to be seen, and I’m glad it was a hit. J.J. Abrams and co. can make one hell of a movie. The only reason it doesn’t get further is because we have all seen this movie before. There is hardly anything special or moving.
21) THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU: Plot: The affair between a politician and a ballerina is affected by mysterious forces keeping the lovers apart.
My Thoughts: When I was a child, I always used to have the same conversation with my mother. Our discussions would focus on the idea of free will vs. destiny. I have to admit that, when I was younger, I used to believe more in destine than the idea of free will. (Maybe being a movie lover had something to do with that… “The boy always gets the girl.” “Everything works out in the end…” types of situations.) Well, the older I have gotten the more I realize that life isn’t exactly like that. The bully doesn’t always get what is coming to him, and the guy doesn’t always get the girl. This kind of takes the imagination out of life, but I guess that is just growing up. Nevertheless, movies/stories that deal heavily with the subject have since been on my plate. It is a delicate issue, and it is rarely done right. The Adjustment Bureau was very successful in its efforts. It told a good story about a man that was trying to defy his destine for love. Stories like this make me feel like a kid again. Everything is possible, and magic still exists.
20) WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN:
Plot: The mother of a teenage boy who went on a high-school killing spree tries to deal with her grief - and feelings of responsibility for her child's actions.
My Thoughts: Speaking about mothers – if you haven’t seen this movie yet – go tell your mother just how much you love and respect her. Make her know that you are important in her life because this film will put you in that mood regardless. If not that, it will make you not want to have children at all. We Need to Talk About Kevin is by far the most disturbing movie that I have seen all year. This is something that I believe after watching Contagion. I’m not really sure why I sat through the whole film. The beginning is so strange that you want to just stop watching and complain until you get your money back. The rest of the movie isn’t much better. However, at the end you look back at the film in a more holistic view, and you will see its importance. Don’t just take my word for it though because a lot of people seem to hate it.
19) CONTAGION:
Plot: A thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak.
My Thoughts: Talking about a movie that really disturbed me. Contagion isn’t just a movie with a bunch of stars. It isn’t just a movie about the bird flu. It is a movie that really gets under your skin. The story doesn’t just deal with the outbreak of a fatal disease and how that affects the culture as a whole. The whole film is about how fear, greed, and power can also be contagious to mankind. This is an important film in the long run because humans will jump on anything. If anything it is a strong argument of how we act as a species. (At the same time… I might just be looking at this whole thing at a really strange viewpoint. It could have just been a fun story. Hahaha, let me dream that there are still creative people out there.)
18) MIDNIGHT IN PARIS: Plot: A romantic comedy about a family traveling to the French capital for business. The party includes a young engaged couple forced to confront the illusion that a life different from their own is better.
My Thoughts: If there was anything that I could really point out in this film that would justify my dislike of it – it would be that Owen Wilson is incapable of playing Woody Allen. I don’t care if he did his best! Nobody can play Woody Allen. The only problem here is that Woody Allen wrote this movie. If you know his films at all it is clear that this role should have been given to a younger Woody Allen. Anyway, this movie really hit the mark in a lot of other ways. At its heart the film is a story about how nostalgia literally gets the best of us. (Seriously? I just got done writing about how awesome Take Me Home Tonight was. How is Woody Allen going to do this to me?!?!) In his latter years, Woody Allen’s movies have really done a lot to teach various lessons for a more mature audience. 1) I like this new storytelling style from Woody Allen. 2) I’m glad I’m finally old enough to understand the point of all this stuff.
17) THE IDES OF MARCH:
Plot: An idealistic staffer for a newbie presidential candidate gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail.
My Thoughts: For some reason there is very little for me to say about this movie. It has an excellent cast, good direction, and a story worth watching. In fact, if you are looking for a movie to see with the most impressive cast of the year – The Ides of March is probably your best bet. This movie is entertaining, but it is hard for me to admit that I was ever thrilled watching it. I found myself more routing for Ryan Gosling’s character. Yet, in the end, it is just a tragic movie – one that is definitely worth the watch.
16) WIN WIN: Plot: A struggling lawyer and volunteer wrestling coach's chicanery comes back to haunt him when the teenage grandson of the client he's double-crossed comes into his life.
My Thoughts: Paul Giamatti… you have to love him. This is another film that I have a problem articulating just why I liked it. Its one of those stories doesn’t really have a beginning or an end. The audience is placed in the middle of an important moment in a person’s life, and we watch as a portion of it plays out. There is something simplistic to this type of storytelling. There is no grand resolution that is made. Life is hard, and you take it as it comes. Man up and do what needs to be done. In some ways that is the most telling of all stories.
15) SHAME: Plot: In New York City, Brandon's carefully cultivated private life -- which allows him to indulge his sexual addiction -- is disrupted when his sister Cissy arrives unannounced for an indefinite stay.
My Thoughts: Sex is not your friend in this movie. It is probably one of the worst and strangest villains of the entire year. Michael Fassbender is just fantastic. Shame is one of the most tragic movies I have seen in year. It is slow burning. It quickly goes way out of control, and you wish the character would snap out of his obsessive life. The movie leaves you hanging on this note, but you know that he isn’t really changed from his experiences. Word to the wise: this film is not for the faint of heart. At its center, it is the most artistic porn movie ever made. Have fun watching.
[Okay, for full disclosure I enjoy a good high concept thriller. The next four films are not really films that you would be seeing on most other best of lists this year. I am not doing this to simply be different. Like I have already said, there films are ones that I found particularly entertaining. They made me think but at the same time they are easily re-watchable. That makes for a good film. Secondly, I believe that all four concepts would be better served as television shows than straight up movies. That’s just my call.]
14) SOURCE CODE:
Plot: An action thriller centered on a soldier who wakes up in the body of an unknown man and discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train.
My Thoughts: [Last I heard this concept was being crafted into a television series. Called it!] Normally a Jake Gyllenhaal film would not make it on my list, but 2011 was a less than conventional year for film lovers. Like The Adjustment Bureau, Source Codes story focused heavily on the concept of destiny. Could you change the future if you were allowed to travel back in time? It’s a hard question to ask. The film doesn’t do everything perfectly, but it allows for enough fun to be watchable. To the films advantage, it is the closest movie on this list to a single room thriller. One of those usually makes it on my list every year, but I was largely unmoved by the other offerings throughout 2011. Source Code is a fun ride, but I’m waiting for the television series.
13) IN TIME:
Plot: In a future where people stop aging at 25, but are engineered to live only one more year, having the means to buy your way out of the situation is a shot at immortal youth. Here, Will Salas finds himself accused of murder and on the run with a hostage - a connection that becomes an important part of the way against the system.
My Thoughts: [This film has the biggest “OMG! This should be a television show because I would follow it religiously!” type of feel. Sadly, I don’t think that is going to happen.] Not a lot of other people really enjoyed themselves with this film. I did! Why? The film is essentially a Logan’s Run/Robin Hood remake. It deals with the evils/unfairness of capitalism (Where were all the Occupy Wall Street people to make this movie a success?) It stars Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, and Olivia Wilde (Where were all the young people to make this movie a success?) Lastly, the film’s general idea is an interesting twist on the classic race against time thriller. (Where were all the movie lovers to make this film a success?!) I’m not trying to sit here and tell you this was the best movie of the year because it certainly isn’t. The rules of the world don’t make a lot of sense. The story is sloppy, and Andrew Niccoi might have put in one to many “I don’t have time” puns. However, the difference between this film and a lot of others this year was simply it made me excited to see movies again. In my opinion, Timberlake and Seyfried have excellent chemistry. (I hope they work together soon.) Please do yourself a favor and watch this movie when it comes out on DVD/Blu-ray. Don’t watch it with the idea that it will be great. Turn off your brain and have fun.
12) INSIDIOUS:
Plot: A family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further.
My Thoughts: [Okay, this might be a really good television idea. Yet, horror television is the new big thing. It could work in my book. Plus, they could do it easily and continue the film franchise at the same time. Just base the show off of another person who is able to travel into The Further. Maybe it could be a horror/comedy show based off the scene-stealing partners Specs and Tucker. Leigh Whannell could also be the lead writer of the entire series. I would also follow that series with great passion.] In the long run – there were so many good things about his movie it is hard to pick a place to begin. James Wan and Liegh Whannell aggressively reemerged as the undisputed of modern/compelling horror movies. (Both SAW and Insidious are instant classic. Its best to forget about Dead Silence.) The story actually worked, and the end product was slightly disturbing. This film not only helps prove that movies have to be expensive to be great, but also that horror movies don’t need to be rated “R” to be scary. Sadly, I don’t think Insidious has the same re-watchable qualities that SAW does, (I might be one of the only people who believes that.) but it is still good on the second/third viewing.
11) THE LINCOLN LAWYER:
Plot: A sleazy defense attorney has a crisis of conscience when he represents a wealthy client who has a foolproof plan to beat the system.
My Thoughts: [Another show that’s concept is currently being re-worked for the small screen. Call it again!!!] I have always had a soft spot for courtroom thrillers. I’m not really sure why that is a true statement for me. (Maybe it has something to do with most of my family at least taking the LSAT at some point. Honestly, it might be that the entire conflict of a story can start and end in relatively the same place. When a single area can become the bane of a characters existence to the salvation.] Anyway, I really enjoyed this film. As my dad said, “the movie had a tight story. It was well put together with good acting and little drag time.”
10) CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE
Plot: A middle-aged husband's life changes dramatically when his wife asks him for a divorce. He seeks to rediscover his manhood with the help of a new-found friend Jacob, learning to pick up girls at bars.
My Thoughts: Ever since the release of the excellent Love Actually several years ago, Hollywood has been desperately trying to regenerate the same type of movie magic that went into the making of that film. In the process, the American people have been forced to witness such disasters as He’s Just Not that Into You, Valentines Day, and New Year’s Eve. While these films are not the worst of their respective years, they leave a lot to be desired. Enter Crazy, Stupid, Love! This movie doesn’t just try to recreate itself in the vain of aged formulas, but it does take advantage of an incredibly diverse ensemble of a cast. In short: this movie focuses heavily on a Guy Ritchie approach to storytelling. (all be it less stylized.) The story focuses on several different individuals as they go through their daily lives until they all get pushed into to same crazy situation. Crazy, Stupid, Love is not the only most effective movies of the year, but it very well could be one of the finest romantic comedies in the last decade.
9) MONEYBALL:
Plot: The story of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.
My Thoughts: Sports movies are a hard thing to pull off. There are several things that can go wrong when filming any given action shot. For the most part – sports seem to always looks superhuman when being film for a movie. Every single moment deserves to be on the highlight reel for the best plays of the entire year. Another hard boundary is the idea of how you are going to sell the film. Have you ever noticed that most every sports movie include some kind of big win or victory. I don’t care if it is for the entire team or for one individual. There is always something that saves the day in the end. Moneyball was different. It’s about a struggling team that beats the odds, but in the end just struggles again more than ever. It’s a story less about the passion of the game and more about the business of winning at all cost. It was different, and it was good. It deserves to be recognized.
8) DRIVE: Plot: A Hollywood stunt performer who moonlights as a wheelman discovers that a contract has been put on him after a heist gone wrong.
My Thoughts: 2011 is the year of Ryan Gosling! What is the best part about that statement? He probably isn’t even in his prime yet. This isn’t going to be his best year of his career. Will he have as many quality roles? Probably not, but he will go on to do much better films. That is exciting. Anyway, Drive is a movie that deserves so attention. It deserves more than it got. While the story was purposely a little slow and not well structured, the sheer quality of the film makes it impossible to bash to any real extent. It is sad that the film suffers in my opinion for its choice of storytelling. It could have made it further down the list if it was a little bit more mainstream. At the same time, that is why a lot of people have been putting this film at the top of their lists. I respectfully disagree.
7) BEGINNERS: Plot: A young man is rocked by two announcements from his elderly father: that he has terminal cancer, and that he has a young male lover.
My Thoughts: The most unconventional love story of the year. It had everything from a starving artist to elderly gay man to semi-talking dog. Somewhere in the midst of all the madness was a movie that really speaks to people. It is almost the same breed as Win Win because it just goes on. The main character gives you some enlightening life lessons that help put various situations in your life into perspective, but in the end we are just left with characters with a paper-thin story. Like I have said before… its refreshing and worth it.
6) LIMITLESS: Plot: A writer discovers a top-secret drug which bestows him with super human abilities.
My Thoughts: My Thoughts: [I want to go back on the record and state that this is a perfect concept for a television series. I know it wouldn’t work probably, but it could play off so many angles: drugs, politics, high-powered business, etc. It’s just a thought.] I promise… this is my last high concept film on the list. Well – not really. It is my last high concept sci-fi film on the list. (It depends on how you look at it.) Limitless was something of a surprise of the year. It was something that I knew I wanted to see. For some reason the pairing of Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro was a no brainer. Unfortunately, they didn’t play off of each other in the way that the trailer suggested. Oh well… Bradley Cooper ended up caring the film with no problem. The end result was something special both practically and visually.
[Okay, I understand that there is no fifth film on this list. I promise that there are twenty-five films on this list. I just couldn’t really consider any movie that comes close to these last five films, and I couldn’t pick my favorites. In that case… two movies have tied.]
4) THE HELP:
Plot: An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960's decides to write a book detailing the African-American maid's point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis.
My Thoughts: Will any of the women in this movie get an Oscar? I don’t think so. My dad thinks that this film will sweep the Academy Awards this year, but I am not so sure. The only thing I know is that this was the BIGGEST surprise of the entire year! I wasn’t even planning on going to see it, but I’m glad I did. (I even got it for Christmas… score) This was a movie that just worked. It deserves to be on this list. Hopefully the Academy shows it a little love this year, but I don’t think it will walk away any of the big five Oscars. (Best Picture/Director/Screenplay/Actor/Actress)
3) HANNA: Plot: A 16-year-old 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.
My Thoughts: A very interesting take on the fairy tale aspect of storytelling; however, this princess is a killing machine. She doesn’t think twice. She breaks your neck if you get in her way, and she does it to the coolest soundtrack of the entire year. I saw this film in D-Box, and I couldn’t possibly suggest you watch it any other way. I’m sure it is still a good film either way. The biggest surprise of 2011 and another one I had no real intension of seeing. This only goes to show you that you need to keep your mind open to any kind of movie concept. If a movie sounds interesting you should watch it eventually.
2) GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO:
Plot: Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander, a young computer hacker.
My Thoughts: Which movie in 2011 had the best poster? Which movie had the best teaser trailer? Which movie had the best trailer? Which movie had the best-attached talent? Which movie deserves Oscar nominations for best picture/director/adaptation/actress? The answer to all these questions is Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. The only disappointing this that came out of this movie is the fact that literally nobody has taken the time to see it. I don’t really know why that is even an issue. The movie going audience is tired of the same old tricks… this movie is different. If you haven’t seen this movie yet… please go see it. I suspect the only thing that will annoy you about it will be the run time that is incredibly long. But wait! You people watched Avatar to the amount of $2.7 billion dollars worldwide and there was nothing moving about that movie. Do the industry a favor and spend your money on a movie that deserves its sequels.
1) WARRIOR & 50/50: Warrior's Plot: The youngest son (Hardy) of an alcoholic former boxer (Nolte) returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament. 50/50's Plot: Inspired 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.
Two movies for the number one spot of 2011. This is not something that I usually try to do, but I couldn’t decide this year. Both films do a very good job at making me care about the story material. Warrior is the closest thing to a modern day Rocky that the movie going audience can expect, and 50/50 perfectly captures the pain in dealing with the effects of cancer. Both films move you in certain ways. They make you care about the people around you and inspire to be the best person that you could possibly be. Both films call for you to leave it all on the line when you feel like you don’t have a choice. Both films deserve a best picture nomination, but I know that neither will get it because of their source material.
IN CONCLUSION: 2011 wasn’t a very good year in terms of the common formula of movies. In this entire list, I only felt like one established franchise film deserved a mention. That isn’t to say it was the best of the bunch, but I think it did its best to improve on its source material. I don't really put these lists together year after year for the readers. I do it for myself. It helps me remember all the great times I had watching movies in the last year. All the different people I experienced them with. The way they made me laugh, cry and smile. All these films deserve to be seen by both movie lovers and the general audience alike. Do yourself a favor and look them up when you get the chance.
In 2009, America was introduced to one of the newest entries in a long line of micro budgetedfilms that are released every year. Paranormal Activity was a small film that was made for around $15,000 a a group of creative filmmakers. The idea was simple, and they did everything they could with the money they had. It was a special idea that deserved attention because it once again established the idea that anyone can succeed in great film-making as long as they work within their means. Although a lot of people are not really aware of the journey that this film had in its path to the big screen. The mainstream public hears very little about how the original film was actually completed in 2007, picked up by Paramount, strongly considered for either a small straight-to-DVD release/big budget remake, and eventually left to die in a the confines of an extremely limited release a whole month before the Halloween season. However, thanks to the great minds in the Paramount marketing department, the original Paranormal Activity was given a new life with a strong "Demand it" advertising push on the internet. Hype started building up around the internet. Their were claims that the movie was the "scariest movie everconceived." Claims of people "passing out in the theaters" were posted all over the internet. Even the trailer for the damn film focused on the idea scared audience members in footage of a live screening. Out of seemingly nowhere, the movie began filling up more theaters around the country. Paramount seemed to have a winner on its hands. The film was making a lot of money around the country. It had even become one of the most profitable movies of all time in terms of raw dollars. The film even did the impossible by not only beating out the sixth installment of the Saw franchise, but also effectively putting that particular franchise in the grave due to substantial profit decline. The country was booming about Paranormal Activity. It was a great win for Paramount and independent film-making alike. It wasn't long until Paramount released a statement officially announcing a quick follow up to the first movie, and a new division in which Paramount would give independent filmmakers a chance a $100,000 dollar micro films for the big screen. All seemed right with the world. The only problem I am having with this story is that it makes no sense to me! Maybe it is because I was one of the few to wait and see Paranormal Activity on the small screen because I wasn't seeing what everyone else was. (I understand this. Movies are made to be seen in big groups of people.) Personally, I view the original Paranormal Activity as that boring cult film that every hipster is supposed to love. A movie that someone is supposed to endlessly suggest to their friends but never have any luck. The type of movie nobody really wants to watch because it is boring and has a paper thin story (Really...isn't that what people complain about when discussing the quality of horror films? Where are all the critics on this one?) but thenangrily admits that it wasn't as bad as they thought. (Even though they still don't understand what the big deal is about.) So, as you may have guessed, I wasn't a really big fan of the first film. I will argue that it was a good film solely because the creative minds of the filmmakers. Anyway, I rarely argue over the idea of sequels anymore. (If the film has the potential to be good than it is okay in my book.) I decided to check out Paranormal Activity the opening weekend last year. Everyone was talking about it in length. People were even claiming that it was "the Godfather: Part II of horror movies." There seemed to be something about the newer one that the older one was lacking. (Naturally, I assumed it was simply more story.) However, the movie was set as a prequel. Naturally this was a hard thing to grasp. (How was the story going to advance through a prequel? The simple answer...IT DIDN'T!!! They didn't even try! The movie never tries to explain why it deserves to be seen, and nobody seems to care.) The only noticeable difference was the obvious self-awareness of the "story". Except this time it was far worse... I was in a crowd of my peers viewing the same movie as them, and everyone still seemed to like it. Again, the claims of the sequel being the scariest film that had ever been witnessed began to repeat themselves, and my faith in the movie going public began a steeper decline than anything seen in years prior. This second film went on to gross less than its predecessor, but it was still enough money to justify continuing the franchise. Then I told myself, "at least the second one ended in a very good way. There is a lot of story to be told there!" No... the third movie once again goes for the prequel idea. I comforted my thoughts with hope that this prequel would explore the cause of this "activity" that has taken up so much of my time. With that in mind - I headed to the theater still trying to figure out what all the hype is about... In short - I still don't understand it. The third movie plays out like the previous two films in the franchise. The only major differences are darker tone and a quicker feeling. In all honesty, I would argue that this is in fact the best film in the entire franchise. There seems to be an understand of what exactly is going on within the world after you view this friend. The only real problem is that it doesn't really makes sense in terms of the franchise. Like I have said, you can't advance your story by going backwards. There will always be problems that occur. (The mysteriously disappearing tapes that were present throughout the franchise...the things that could have enlightened everyone around this from the very beginning? How are these girls okay after what they witnessed at the end of this film? Honestly, I'm not really asking these questions, I'm just ranting.) In general, horror films are a breeding group for lazy film-making. I'm not a hater of horror films, but it is common knowledge that horror films rely on placing theirscary moments on tightly focused areas. In this way - the audience has no way of actually knowing what waits around the corner for the hero of the story. Nosubgener plays more heavily on this than the found-footage genre. Paranormal Activity might actually be the worst at this in the business. The films constantlyrely on making the audience wait for a big scare to come. Basically reducing the thrills of the films to nothing more than a spooky internet scary face pop-up effect. The third film doesn't attempt to break this habit. In fact, it makes the whole experience of not knowing what is going to pop out that much worse. The reliance of this technique is the source of every single scare in this entire franchise. The only problem is that it stunts the growth of the story. In order to keep the scares coming, the filmmakers have to keep the audience in the dark as long as possible. This has resulted in production of the same movie three different times. (How strange to me that both audience and critics alike don't seem to mind this fact. They are simply happy with claiming wild opinions of the movie without highlighting the fact that it revolves around a very weak plot. Nobody really knows exactly what is going on within these films...not even the filmmakers. The only goal here is to pump out as many movies as possible until people wise-up to the situation. The fact that people haven't lashed out on the lack of story yet makes me sick!) (I'm I the only one getting tired of the idea that the men in Paranormal Activity have literally nothing better to do than watch boring ass tape of people sleeping all day until they killed at the every end? Lets change this stuff up! Its getting so old.) I'll give one last quick note. These are my opinions about not only this movie but the franchise as a whole. However, I firmly believe that this franchise has nothing to offer in terms of real storytelling. While I wouldn't argue that the SAW franchise was of better quality than these films. I would argue that at least the filmmakers tried hard to tell a complex story that could be followed with a little dedication. (Maybe I am missing this aspect within the Paranormal world, but I don't believe I am.) Personally, i believe that the argument that SAW was a weak franchise because it had no story is something that can no longer be claimed. In fact, the success of the Paranormal Activity movies is the demand from viewers that Hollywood should focus solely on visual pleasures for the eye and forget about story. I wish everyone would think about this hard because Hollywood will. The message cannot be that the American public simply wants eye candy. The heart and soul of great film-makinglies in the art of great storytelling. The success of Paranormal Activity remains just one more nail in the coffin of truly great film-making.
It is no secret that Hollywood seems to be stuck in the longest metaphoric idea drought for the last few years. The biggest tragedy is that movie fans have not been treated to a magnificent lineup of blockbuster film for the longest time. In fact, the last time this happened was back in 2007 with the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Shrek the Third, Spider-Man 3, The Bourne Ultimatium, Transformers, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 300, Ratatouille, Knocked Up, The Simpsons Movie, Superbad, Disturbia, I Am Legend, National Treasure: the Book of Secretes, Alvin and the Chipmucks, ect... (While not everyone of those films was good, there was at least something to get excited about.) However, the lineup for 2008 - 2010 was followed up with even fewer large tentpole films to get excited about. While this helped more original ideas find a wide range of success, it left the blockbuster seasons feel dry and useless. Thankfully, 2011-2012 seems to be the injection of pure FUN that we movie goers desperately need!
MOVIE: LIMITLESS THE REMINDER: The "WHAT IF" storyline WHY: What if you made a movie about a pill that could make someone limitless? What if that movie was good? Honestly, the last few big names in this genre of films were Bedtime Stories and Even Almighty. It might not be the best film in the world, but Limitless proves that filmmakers can still make a really fun movie out of a "WHAT IF" concept. WHAT WE CAN HOPE FOR: More "WHAT IF" storylines that focus on real world characters and situations. No more kid friendly crap! PG-13 and up!
MOVIE: INSIDIOUS THE REMINDER: The low budget story driven horror. WHY: Money is the source of most creative downfalls. Sadly, the old saying is true "you can do anything you want, but not everyone is going to like you." When money is on the line things are dumbed down so everyone will like it, but real fans end up hating the final product in the process. Here is an idea - just put a little money in it and make a good film. James Wan and Liegh Whannell are heros! WHAT WE CAN HOPE FOR: More low budget films for every genre. Let the creative process do its work! We want good films.
MOVIE: SOURCE CODE THE REMINDER: Time traveling thrillers WHY: Fun, funny, and the list goes on. Source Code is one of those movies that should have never been anything besides a popcorn film, but it becomes much more then that. It throws itself into a character driven drama with a riddle that keeps you guessing until the end. Definitely worth seeing. WHAT CAN WE HOPE FOR: The success of this movie will hopefully see more movies like Deja Vu and Groundhogs Day.
MOVIE: HANNA THE REMINDER: The original take on a classic story WHY: With the wildly unexplainable success of Disney's Alice in Wonderland, Hollywood has began to pump out great deal of dark gritty remakes of the Grimm Brother's tales/fairy tales. We have already seen Summit's take on Red Riding Hood, but we are about to be attacked with various remakes of others. (Peter Pan, Little Mermaid, two Snow Whites, ect...) It is going to be a crappy few years. Nevertheless, Joe Wright has already given us one of his own, and NOBODY really noticed! Hanna is a re-imagining of the classic princess tales of our youth, but its done as an action movie. The does almost everything right, but it's soundtrack is probably the best I've heard in years. This is one of the best movies of the year so far, and I doubt many will top it. WHAT WE CAN HOPE FOR: Saddly there is very little that we can ask for from this film. It didn't really do very well in the theaters. Yet, there are whispers of a Hanna 2...lets all hope for it.
MOVIE: SCRE4M THE REMINDER: IRONIC SATIRE WHY: The original Scream was a huge success because it came in a time when the horror genre was in need of a hero. It was also populated with what was a never ending stream of terrible slasher sequel. The Scream movies capitalized on the concept of making fun of the slasher genre. Unfortunately, that don't really translate eleven years after the fact. The genre has changed, and Scream has missed its shot at poking fun at the entire concept. That isn't to say the film isn't a decent venture. It returns the franchise to its origins and calls back the notion of why we love it in the first place. It literally tells the audience to stop watching the film and go grab a copy of the original on DVD because it is the only great one. In that way, it makes me smile. I have long disliked the Scream movies, but after re-watching the whole series I have new found respect. This film reminds us how good the 90's were, and its always good to look back good memories. WHAT CAN WE HOPE FOR: 5cream is on the verge of being confirmed or denied. I want one that can do what this one didn't - reminded the audience how stupid/strange the genre is. I want it to evolve and make fun of the landscape of the genre the way it is today instead of calling back the good old days. That is what we can hope for it a Scream film.
MOVIE: FAST FIVE THE REMINDER: Franchises can be like a fine wine WHY: I have this little theory - the fifth movie in an on going franchise is always the worst received movie in that franchise at the time of its release. I call this rule "The Rule Of Five". Examples include, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Halloween 6, SAW V, STAR WARS: EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES, Friday the 13th: PART V, ROCKY V, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, ect... The best part about it is that FAST FIVE was one of the best films in the series. In fact, it could been called the best film in the entries franchise. Considering 2011 has a few more fifth films coming to light over the course of the year...we can only hope we see the same thing. WHAT CAN WE HOPE FOR: Franchise will begin to move into new interesting territory as they grow instead of holding on to the formula.
MOVIES: THOR & Captain America: The First Avenger THE REMINDER: Marvel gives everyone a thumbs up and valiantly proclaims, "Don't worry...we got this!" WHY: IRON MAN 2 was a mess. It makes any die hard Marvel fan feel a little cheated, but it wasn't a terrible film. However, Marvel showed its true colors in the wake of the situation. They carelessly people go for seemingly no reason. That wouldn't have been a problem but these people where key roles in the Avengers film! Given to the fact that Iron Man's 2 plot was drastically hurt because of a huge subplot to establish the Avengers, it began to seem like they didn't even care anymore. Nonetheless, it appears that all the worry was for nothing, and The Avengers might just be the most epic movie of all time. WHAT CAN WE HOPE FOR: The most epic movie of all time... if it isn't to much to ask for...
MOVIE: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides THE REMINDER: ...You still love Captain Jack Sparrow! WHY: Because you do! Maybe it was a bad idea to give Jack Sparrow his very only spin-off/reboot/sequel movie, but nobody cares! Almost everyone loves these film, and we want more. We want the fifth film. Sure there needs to be things to improve the overall quality, but we sill still see it! WHAT CAN WE HOPE FOR: While the fourth film wasn't the worst the franchise for some, we can hope it franchise doesn't follow the rule of five. That would be a nail in the coffin!
MOVIE: THE HANGOVER: PART II THE REMINDER: The Wolf Pack WHY: The Hangover: Part II wasn't as good as the original movie. It wasn't as funny, and they replaced funny jokes with disgusting/disturbing ones; however, it was a decent film. The audience was introduced to a more character driven installment this time around. I feel we as the audience have really gotten to know every single one of these characters for who they really are at their most natural levels. In that way it is still a very good movie, and you should see it - if you liked The Hangover. WHAT CAN WE HOPE FOR: An epic final where we get to see the Wolf Pack actually live it up for the sickest night ever!
IN THE END: The year of 2011 has been crazy, and it will continue to be. Cinema lovers have caught up with a few old friends. They have been introduced to new ones. Are all the movies good? No! Did you enjoy watching them? Probably. I know I did. Just remember - 2011 is the official year of the reminder. Heres to the rest of the year!
Though I have never really understood it...the world loves Captain Jack Sparrow. In all honesty, there is very little not to love about Johnny Depp putting on a wig, a bunch of makeup, and dancing around as a crazy/brilliant/legendary pirate. However, the question quickly becomes, how long can Hollywood keep this gag going? The first Pirates movie opened up way back in the summer of 2003 to $46 million. Given that it was a movie property based on a theme park ride, many people were extremely surprised with the outcome of the picture. In the coming weeks it proved it wasn't just a one hit wonder as the film held on to its audience throughout the summer to gross a staggering $305 million - making it the years third highest domestic earner behind Nemo and Return of the King. American audiences were hooked on Pirates, and House of Mouse was quick to announce two more films. Three years later, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest became the single highest grossing film in a single day at the time. ($55 million on its opening day. Beating out the original Spider-Man. $135 million for the opening weekend. Fun fact: Spider-Man 3 took that title back for a short time the very next year before having it taken away by The Dark Knight. Twilight: New Moon holds the torch now with $72 million.) The sequel went on to out gross the original by a considerable margin with $423 million domestically. ($1.06 billion worldwide.) Though the sequel was not critic friendly - it appeared that the world was still in love with pirates. The seas looked clear for the third film to break more records. In 2007, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End launched its opening weekend with $114 million. The film ended its run with $309 million domestically and $936 million worldwide. Though it was still an extremely successful film, the execution of the third adventure left a lot of fans tired of the same old jokes and set pieces. With the ending promising a swift return to basics... many fans decided they had already had their fill of pirate nostalgia at the multiplex. Fast forward four more years, and we have yet another Pirates in the wake of box office glory. Nevertheless, the question this time isn't "when am I going to see it? It is "do I think I'll give it a chance?" There is no doubt that the last few films have had an effect on the audience's enthusiasm for the new film. In fact, the concept is based around a side character from the original trilogy. (Seriously...Jack Sparrow was never the main character of the original films. The whole popularity of the franchise has been based on the idea of the side character.) However, with nearly everyone gone from the original films, this film feels like that long awaited back to basics approach of the original film. Plus with the added bonus of 3D and the widest IMAX release in history, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides should make a hell of a lot of money at the box office. Even if it under preforms stateside (which many think it will) there is little doubt this new film will be the top grosser of the franchise over seas. This will mean that Disney will shell out the $250 or so required to make a fifth movie. The only thing that really matter is when Johnny Depp feels like doing another one. On a side note, I'm pretty sure that if this latest Pirates film can gross more than $100 million dollars in its opening weekend it will be the first film franchise in history to open three $100 million dollar weekend movies in a row. I would watch out for that one! If you follow the box office like I do, it has been hard to ignore how terrible the year overall preform ace has been so far. I'm crossing my fingers that Pirates can break the $100 million hurdle and get this year back on track. $103 million over the weekend is my estimate.
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SHORT VERSION: I AM NUMBER FOUR hopes to launch a new young adult franchise in the vain of Twilight, and launch Alex Pettyfer into A-list stardom. Does it succeed or fall flat on its face? Read on to find out...
Truth be told, I was never excited to see this movie. The trailers were very mindless with the intention of following the status quo. A supernatural boy-toy falls helplessly in love with a normal everyday girl. He then must summon all his strength in order to defend not only himself, but everything he holds dear to himself. (Seriously! What movie am I describing?) Lazy hollywood bull****; however, like must big name films, I found myself in a seat of a crowded screening awaiting my cinematic vacation. While I would never say that this movie was overly good, I was very impressed with how much I enjoyed the other all experience of it.
DREAM TITLE: TAKEN: PART II DREAM DIRECTOR: Pierre Morel (if not Luc Besson) DREAM CAST: Liam Nesson, Maggie Grace, Framke Janssen, Xander Berkeley, James McAvoy, and Keira Knightley. DREAM PLOT: After the events of the original filim, Bryan Mills (Nesson) returns to his everyday normal life of retirement. He is now welcomed to see his daughter Kim (Grace) whenever he wants, and life seems better than ever. With everything going so well, his old teammates are able to convince him to help them on a very important job that needs to be done quietly. Bryan reluctantly agrees because he is in need of the money. The team packs up and leaves England. However, Bryan quickly realizes that his partners have been hired to "take" him. Before he can do anything, he is tranquilized. Bryan wakes up in an unknown space surrounded by a few armed men that he has never seen before. A well groomed young man (McAvoy) enters the room and apologies for the rude behavior of his clients. He goes on to explain the reasoning behind the current events is due to the recent unraveling of his fathers sex slave business. (The organization Bryan disrupted in the first film.) McAvoy's character orders Bryan be killed quickly. Bryan finds a way to escape killing all the guards. Bryan escapes his holding building and desperately searches for a way to reach his family. Nevertheless, McAvoy's character puts a price on Bryan's head. This cuases some of skilled assassins to begins to search Bryan out as he desperately tries to get home. One assassin is a woman played by Keria Knightly whom gets the closest to Bryan before ultimately finding helping him. With the female assassin's help, Bryan is able to get kill McAvoy and get home safely.
DREAM TITLE: TAKEN: PART III DREAM DIRECTOR: Luc Besson DREAM CAST: Liam Nesson, Maggie Grace, Framke Janssen, Xander Berkeley, Bill Nighy, and Keira Knightley. DREAM PLOT: Bryan arrives home safely from the events of the second film. However, he is greeted with the disturbing scene upon his arrival. With his wife and her new husband dead, the only thing he is left with is a picture of his daughter Kim bounded and gagged. He quickly seeks out his old partners for information - taking them out after he gets what he needs. Bryan is forced to travel back to Europe to take out the head of the organization (Nighy) to get his only surviving family back.
DREAM TITLE: DUE DATE 2 DREAM DIRECTOR: Todd Phillips DREAM CAST: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Jamie Foxx, Michelle Monaghan, Channing Tatum, Danny Mcbride, Al Pacino, AnnaSophia Robb, and Sasha Barrese DREAM PLOT: Three years after the events of the original film, Ethan Tremblay - formally Ethan Chase - (Zach Galifianakis) has ascended into Hollywood "B" rated status. He makes his living guest starring on various TV sitcom shows and made for TV movies. Though his career has yet to blossom into the lavish dreams that his father once hoped, Ethan has succeeded in maintaining his friendship with Peter Highman (Robert Jr.) and his family. Downey Despite his seemingly failing career, Ethan remains hopeful that his next project - a self written script entitled "Check Yourself; Before You Wreck Yourself": based on the "true" story of a soldier trying to get back home to meet his teenage daughter for the first time - will be the thing that catapults him the limelight. Ethan finds himself in an awkward situation when contacted by Warner Brothers' executives informing him that they loved his pitch. They go on to inform that they want to see him and the final draft of the script in person by the end of the week. What should be look upon as a joyful occasion is a nightmare when Ethan informs the Highman family that he has yet to write a single word of the script. In fact, the idea came from an outline written when he was at his dealers house (Channing Tatum) after rehashing the events of the first film for some group storytelling party; furthermore, the outline is still at the dealers house, but Ethan can not go back because he has stolen drugs from him since then. In a leap of stupidity, Ethan figures the only way to get the final script written is to travel back to meet with the man that inspired the story to begin with - Lonnie, the handicapped vet from the first film; Peter's wife Sarah convinces him that he owes Ethan for his help during their daughters birth. Peter reluctantly agrees to help Ethan on the provision that they fly to any destination that they maybe going to. Ethan agrees to this, and two start their journey. When they reach the airport, there is a delay of flights due to serious weather that is approaching the area. Before Peter can reject any plan to drive to their location, Ethan is shocked by the sight of his drug dealer staring directly at them with bloodshot eyes just before he greets his little sister (AnnaSophia Robb) getting back from her flight. This moment starts a chase as Ethan and Peter runs form Ethan's blood thirsty drug dealer; all the while trying to write a decent script, and reach their destination on time. A journey that not only takes them across the country, but also reveals unknown secretes about both men's families. DREAM SCENE: The moment Peter Highman spots his father (Al Pacino) in a crowd and follows him chases him down to say a few words. WHAT IT SHOULD BE LIKE: It should be as different from Due Date as possible. Make Peter's character more likable, and Ethan's more dark. WILL IT HAPPEN: I would say that a sequel is possible...maybe. Not this type of sequel though. That is why it is a dream sequel.
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