2012 Films - Best to Worst

Christopher Nolan does the impossible. When no one thought it would ever be possible to create a superhero film that's better than The Dark Knight, Nolan dishes up The Dark Knight Rises. Which is actually better, and therefore the best film in what's definitively the greatest trilogy in the history of cinema.

While Tom Hardy's Bane certainly ain't as unpredictable and insanely humorous as Heath Ledger's Joker, there is no denying that Bane is still a very worthy villain and Hardy's portrayal of him is brilliant. Bane is a totally different villain than The Joker. While The Joker was just pure chaos and anarchy, without any particular reasons (which was very effective), Bane is a much more fleshed out character. He has an agenda and a history. Which, despite what Nolan did on The Joker, also makes Bane just as terrifying as The Joker. Bane's high self esteem and self confidence, as well as his pure brutality, menacing voice and intelligence makes him the definitive Batman villain.

Into the mix Nolan also throws Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle aka Catwoman (even though she is never referred to by that name). She is wonderfully portrayed and brings in some very appreciated sexiness and humor to the film. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is brilliant and that he is actually Robin, and the way he is introduced is nothing but the touch of a genius. Michael Caine is heartbreaking in his role, Gary Oldman is amazing, Marion Cotillard is great while the twist on her actually being Talia al Ghul was guessed before the film came out, it is still done with great skill. Her relationship with Bane is excellent. And Morgan Freeman is as great as always. Christian Bale does deliver his best performance in the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman in this film.

Nolan is easily one of the most ambitious filmmakers living today and The Dark Knight Rises might be his most ambitious film, at least it is the largest. While being larger doesn't necessarily always mean it's better, that's the case here. The spectacle in The Dark Knight Rises is tremendous, gorgeously filmed with amazing special effects (and not overusing CGI). Nolan shows us yet again a very different, but exciting way of showing action. The way he edits the convoluted story, and how he still manages to keep the action and suspense trough the entire running time is spectacular.

Even greater than the amazingly action and effects is the story. It's a complex and convoluted story that requires one's full attention. While The Dark Knight referenced the paranoia after 9/11, The Dark Knight Rises put's in some clever references to the stock market's and elitists fall with some clear parallels too the French revolution. The story is a result of a man with very high ambitions and we are therefore rewarded with the best comic book film ever likely to come out, and one of the greatest action crime-flicks ever.

There is also the way that Nolan concludes his trilogy that makes The Dark Knight Rises shine as much as it does. By killing Batman (and possibly Bruce Wayne (a theory I have)), Nolan dares to go where no other superhero directors have gone. He explodes the boundaries of superhero films, and ends his trilogy in an emotional and effective way.

Review HERE

This is how to create a brilliant rom-com. Instead of stuffing the film with those whimsical, silly and now downright annoying things that seems to massacre that genre, David O. Russell creates a rom-com that's grounded in reality. Everything in this film feels real. And that's because it features top-notch performances, a superb script that manages to tackle troublesome thematics while being emotionally engaging and humorous, and efficient directing.

This is one of those rare film experiences that manages to suck me in from the very first second. I loved every second of it, and if every rom-com from now on will be able to provide the same kind of freshness, affection and humour to them, this genre should have quite good future. But somehow, I doubt that any other film in that genre will be able to live up to the new standard set by Silver Linings Playbook.

Zero Dark Thirty is not only a very strict, tense, suspenseful and gripping thriller. It's also a history lesson that gazes over the hunt for what was the worlds most wanted man with pure intelligence. As well as being devilishly entertaining and extremely interesting, Kathryn Bigelow has created a film that, not only portrays one of the most important historical events in recent years, but also raises several difficult questions. This is a thought-provoking film, and if you're able to follow the complexity of the details that led to Osama bin Laden's demise, I can't see why you won't be thrilled, fascinated or intrigued by this film.

Bigelow could easily have taken the easy way out and simply created a standard Hollywood military-thriller, but instead she's delivered us a film that goes beyond simple entertainment. Zero Dark Thirty is a film that, as I said, poses several important moral and political questions. Thankfully, Bigelow has decided to not let the film have its own opinion of those matters. Leaving the discussion entirely up to the viewer and the audience. Zero Dark Thirty does show what a huge power quality filmmaking can have on people. This film should provide for some interesting discussions. If one is able to survive the nerve-wrecking finale, that is.

Django Unchained may not be as perfect as Inglorious Basterds, but this is a bloody entertaining film. Quentin Tarantino is an entertainer. He makes films for the audience. He goes out in full gear and creates a film filled with so much energy. A true crowd pleaser. It's bloody, memorable, bold and stylish. It's a long film, but it manages to be perfectly paced without boring me for a second.

Tarantino is a master at creating memorable characters. His writing abilities combined with outstanding performances from the cast is one of the many ingredients in this delightful film. If it were up to me, I would have given an Oscar nomination to Samuel L. Jackson and Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as Christoph Waltz (who rightfully deserves his.) The thing that annoyed me about it was that Tarantino just had to show up in front of the screen. He can't act. Nevertheless, film is about entertainment and this was fucking entertaining.

Am I the only one who finds it a bit hard to write about some of Tarantino's films? Most of them are so bloody entertaining that it's hard to come up with suitable words. The best thing I have is "It's fucking entertaining."

The psychological issues that The Perks of Being a Wallflower raises occasionally might not work that well with me, as I feel it's partly out of place in this film. But that aside, this is a terrific film. Probably one of the best in this genre. Boasted by strong performances, a smart, charming and clever script, and heartfelt emotion, this was a wonderful experience.

It's one of those few films that I feel I can relate to in many ways. We might not have the same high school culture in Norway, but like the lead character, I could strongly relate to the confusion and awkwardness that comes around in this age. How its like to not be one of the "popular" kids and how troublesome your first real love can turn out to be. Rarely have I felt a connection like that.

Tim Burton is a genius when it comes to animation (or films in general, if you ask me). I'm a huge fan of stop motion and this is quite possibly one of the best stop motion films I've ever laid my eyes on. A beautifully crafted, magnificent 3D horror adventure in elegant black & white.

Frankenweenie is a cute, heart-warming, macabre and extremely weird horror film for children, while remaining a wonderful homage to older horror classics for adults. But that's not to mean that we can't take part in this emotional journey or get affected by the massive amount of warmth that Frankenweenie offers. I love Tim Burton.

Films like this doesn't come very often. A rare, mesmerizing, warm, whimsical and beautiful film about dreams, friendship, young love and the need to sometimes get away from everything. It's a film that perfectly manages to hit the right spot in my heart, while still be capable to evoke awe and wonder.

The script is delightful and its turned even more delightful by the magical camerawork, editing and musical score, making Moonrise Kingdom feel like a child's dream. It's a wonderful feeling. The characters might lack some realism, but with two gorgeous young leads, they manages to charm me into oblivion. This is a magical film.

Outtake from my review:

"At last. Finally are we back in Middle-Earth. After several years in development hell, Peter Jackson takes us back to one of the most beloved and magical worlds in cinematic and literature history. Jackson did justice to J.R.R Tokien's The Lord of the Rings roughly ten years ago and the expectations for The Hobbit couldn't be any higher. Jackson decided to split The Hobbit into three separate films, including some other stuff Tolkien wrote, as well as Jackson's own artistic choices. And what we have here is the first film, An Unexpected Journey. The first step on this magical journey. For fear not, this is not the Lord of the Rings fans The Phantom Menace. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a magical film. It's not necessarily as good as The Lord of the Rings, but it's exactly what I hoped it would be. It's a whole different journey and it's a good one.

Opening up with Ian Holm returning as old Bilbo Baggins, as he tells the tale of how the dwarfs lost their home, Erebor, to the dragon Smaug, which is quickly followed by Elijah Wood returning as Frodo, talking to Bilbo. It all takes right before the opening scene of The Fellowship of the Ring. And from there I'm mostly sold. The opening prologues might occasionally feel a bit strange and overlong, but it's impossible to deny the impact it immediately stroke me with. I was back in the universe instantly. It's a powerful way to open the film and it got the exact right amount of majesty to it. The nostalgia, seeing it's about ten years since I saw this world at cinema, kick right in as well. Giving me a huge grin on my face, one that lasted through the entire film."

You can read the rest here: My review

A brilliant, inventive piece of Sci-fi. Possibly the best film in that genre since Christopher Nolan's Inception. Looper is on of those rare, clever popcorn films that manages to combine a smart, thought provoking script with well-written characters and thrilling action. It is an emotional film, in the meaning that we don't really know which character we should cheer for. They are wonderfully created and played. Bruce Willis might have given his best performance in years. So, seeing as we don't know which of them we should root for, as we wish them all the best, the ending feels like a punch in the stomach. It's the perfect emotional ending for a film like this.

However, while Looper is fantastic, it's still not perfect. The second half of the film is more appealing, seeing as we get much closer on the characters then. There are also certain plot holes that pulls some of the attention (although, with a film like this, that might be impossible to avoid). But that Rian Johnson managed to balance everything that makes Looper so great, without it collapsing from its own weight, is completely masterful.

I love these kind of horror films. Films that purely rely on a creepy atmosphere. The Woman in Black is a geniuinly scary, terrifying and creepy old-fashioned horror film that made me feel very little in my chair. Alongside the masterful Insidious, this is one of the best horror films in recent years. It's another statement that says that a mysterious and solid plot combined with slowly burned chills and atmosphere is the right way to scare people.

While the first thirty minutes might deliver some cheap, fake jump scenes, there is no denying that the last hour is pure class. There is barely any moment where I'm not sitting there with goosebumps. Everything from the wonderful cinematography, creepy toys, children and women to the delightful music and subtle acting from Daniel Radcliffe is top-notch. This is a film that never lets you go once it starts scaring you. And you will be scared.

A very surprising film. I were honestly expecting an action film with Liam Neeson beating up wolves. Instead we get a very moving film, that still manages to produce enough thrills, without having to lower itself into a simple action fest. It does the right choice of not showing the wolves as much as they could have done. Which is the right choice, seeing as the did look a bit poor, but that also creates other forms to build-and-keep tension. It's the presence of the wolves we fear. That they are out there, lurking in the dark. Watching the men do whatever they think they need to do in order to survive is very thrilling! It's brutal.

But it is also very moving. It's a surprisingly emotional film. Much thanks to brilliant, subtle performances from the actors, particularly Neeson. The characters are wonderfully fleshed out, there are several moments that are on the edge of being completely heartbreaking. There is one scene with Neeson towards the end that nearly devastated me. This is easily one of the most beautiful and thrilling films I've seen in a while.

The Academy Award winning film Argo is a perfect example of a film that's almost perfectly crafted in every section. It's a terrific film. It's entertaining, clever and full of tension. The acting is superb, Ben Affleck is really showcasing himself as a masterful director and the story is skilfully told. Argo is simply a film that should be cherished.

But it's still lacking something, and in my eyes, Affleck's first directing feature, Gone Baby Gone is still his best work. Argo is lacking the extra sparkle or ingredients that would require me to absolutely love this film. But it's almost perfect.

Skyfall is not the best Bond-film so far, but it is easily one of the best. Gone is much of the nonsense from Quantum of Solace and we are instead back to a more traditional Bond. Sam Mendes have done an extremely good job in combining the old, traditional Bond with new innovations, without disrespecting the many elements that's required to make a successful Bond-film. The combination of the familiar and unexpected is the mixture that makes Skyfall work. We have the usual gorgeous female, the wonderful psychotic villain, brilliantly played by Javier Bardem, Bond's car and gun, and the iconic Bond theme. Even Q is back, but that doesn't mean we are getting loads of gadgets. "We don’t really go in for that anymore."

Daniel Craig proves again that he is the best Bond, capable to pull of every character trait that Bond has with ease. The action is terrific with awesome set-pieces. For example, the opening scene is one of the most thrilling and coolest action sequences this year. Heck, the whole film is full of scenes that could earn an award for being that. Another thing that is worth mentioning is Roger Deakins cinematography, which is completely dazzling and will definitely get an Oscar nomination.

My only problem with Skyfall is that I think it could have been tightened a bit, but that's just a small complaint in what's truly one of the best Bond-films. It's delightfully fun and entertaining.

Amour could have been a tremendous masterpiece if Michael Haneke's style had been more varied during the film. It does get slightly monotonous and a bit too sterile eventually for me to like this film more than I already did. For me, this is a film that wins me over by its screenplay and acting, more than Haneke's directing.

It's a beautiful film. A courageous, powerful piece of cinema. A real, emotional and devastating portrayal of love and responsibility. I think this is a film many people can relate to in some way, at least it made me think of my great-grandparents. It's a sad film, a film that's though to watch.

Outtake from my review:
Prometheus is an excellent blockbuster and is so far the best film of the year. To begin with, the visuals are so awesome that I'm on the edge of having an orgasm. It's a visual triumph. The photography is beautiful, particularly in the opening scene, where the camera floats above the landscape. It's superbly designed. Everything in it looks great. The design of the aliens, the suits, the ships, the landscapes and the small little details. Everything is carefully constructed into perfection. Ridley Scott proves again that he is a perfectionist when it comes to the technical aspects of filmmaking. Even the 3D looks phenomenal, and this is perhaps one of the best uses of the technology that I have witnessed.


While it is not as tense or terrifying as Alien, Scott has still managed to create a suspenseful film. He does steadily allows the tension to build slowly and when he finally decides to unleash it, hell is definitely loose. Everything takes a turn for the chaotic and intense. The atmosphere is dazzling, the action is intense, the sound is brilliant, the score is majestic, it's a visual spectacle and despite it's flaws, it is always teasing my curiosity. I want to know more and I want to know it now. I'm hoping for a sequel, because this is one of the most interesting universes in film history.

You can read the rest of my review HERE

It's spectacular, it's solid and very entertaining. Still, it's not perfect. It does a fine job in combining all the heroes without reducing any of them to merely extras, and the script and dialogue is sharp and fresh. Even Tom Hiddleston's Loki (who I didn't care for in Thor) proves himself as a worthy villain. The action is brilliant and the humor hits a lot. There is particularly one moment with the Hulk and Loki that stands out.

Yet, I feel that there is so much more that could have been explored. That they could have reduced the slightly overlong action-sequences in favor for some character moments. You got all these great characters, why not let them interact with each other more besides fighting together? The scene where they all ends up arguing is fantastic! I wanted more of that.

To be honest, I was skeptical. I thought this would just be a gutless Battle Royale. But I was pleasantly surprised, and I do like how they decided to keep this mostly free for blood and violence. Only the implication is enough, and I like that the film takes a stand in it's portrayal of violence. It's social commentary is spot-on.

The thing that actually did surprise me the most is how emotionally engaging it is. Much thanks to a brilliant and affecting lead performance from Jennifer Lawrence, and her chemistry with Josh Hutcherson. They are on fire. They are so excellent that I do get completely engaged in what's going to happen between them, and that results in many scenes that are completely adorable, sweet, riveting and heartbreaking. I do sense that the sequels might give us a triangle love story drama like Twilight, only done correctly?

It's a film that is absolutely entertaining. It's well-acted, the production and all the technical aspects of it are excellent, but it do have it's share of flaws. It is running a bit too long, and some scenes could have possibly been trimmed. (I have not read the books, so I don't know?) And it is a bit too conventional perhaps. It takes the easy way out sometimes, when it possibly would have earned to walk in the darker paths it were starting to lay out. By that we lose some potential hard decisions for Lawrence's character, that would have possibly served the film. Nevertheless, this is an excellent blockbuster.

This film did give me the creeps yet another time. It's just genuinely creepy. One might say that atmosphere is not always enough in order to create a goosebumps-inducing film, which I would normally agree with, but Sinister gets right under my skin because of its atmosphere. Still it manages to take that atmosphere and place it into some well effective scares. It's easily one of the scariest horror films in recent years, even if it can reach the same height as Insidious or The Woman in Black because of one simple thing.

And that's the ending. It's rushed. Is it unsettling and depressing? Yes. It's in many ways a good ending to this film, but it did come out of nowhere, and felt more like a last minute twist that wasn't really a twist.

What seemed like an ordinary horror film about teenagers getting slashed at a cabin in the woods turned out to be exactly that, and everything besides at the same time! The Cabin in the Woods consciously sets up every cliche in the book in order for it to bring it'w own, original premise on board. It pokes fun at those standard, unoriginal horror films while being genuinely entertaining all the way through!

I don't really know why I'm not giving this film a higher rating. Maybe it was a bit slow to begin with? Did I want more character development? I don't know. But what I do know is that this is a very clever and fun horror film that manages to accomplish many feats, like introducing us to one of the wildest last acts I've seen in a while.

Finally. I've been looking forward to this film for ages. It's a premise that's so awesome as you can get it, and it didn't disappoint. It's important to mention that this is a film you can't take seriously. It's more of a comedy, a satire, and it is totally hilarious.

There are so many clever, and hilarious references here (like the parody of a certain famous scene from Der Untergang), and everything is just taken as far as you can. It's hard to write about it, but it is awesome. See it.

Daniel Day-Lewis does completely vanish into the role of Abraham Lincoln. That's a reason enough to see Steven Spielberg's latest. A film that shouldn't be called Lincoln, but The 13th Amendment or something instead. That's not to say that Lincoln ain't a fascinating picture. Because it is. Carried by several strong performances, Lincoln offers itself as a solid history lesson and a film that's generally well-made all over.

But Lincoln can't help but feel a bit overlong and the ending is completely dreadful. It did not have to end with Lincoln getting shot. It does also at times feel like it's a film that's more of a chore to get trough than an actual film. The other 2012 film featuring Abraham Lincoln, that just happened to include vampires, were definitely more fun. But one can't avoid how much greatness that's been put into this film.

I always look forward to a Tim Burton film. Because I love all of his films (I don't count the ape-thingy), so I knew I were going to like this one as well. Burton, Johnny Depp and vampires. I thought I would most definitely be in for a treat. And I liked it. It may not be as good as some of his earlier works, but it is still a very entertaining film.

I see some people have complained about the rhythm in it , that Burton doesn't manage to combine the comedy, drama or spooky horror in it. That's bullshit if you ask me. He does it superbly. It ain't even that much horror in it. Surely there are some slaughtering of some innocent people here, but I don't see why that would make this a horror film? It's more of a fantasy with several campy jokes. Why complain that it doesn't care you when it's not supposed to do so in the first place? That's like giving Schindler's List a poor rating because it ain't funny.

But this is much more of a comedy, and it's great at it! It's much funnier than several actual "comedy's". Several of the jokes regarding Depp's character and his small knowledge of the decade he has arrived in is hilarious. Speaking of Depp, he is great. His role might in some ways be a bit similar to other Burton-roles, but so what? It works. If it ain't broken, why fix it? He has great chemistry with Eva Green, who is criminally hot. The supporting cast is solid, particularly Jackie Earle Haley, who is very amusing.

You can't forget to mention Burton's amazing Gothic visuals. They are breathtakingly beautiful. It's a visual experience just as much as it is a fun comedy. Even the soundtrack is great and captures the feel of the 70's excellently.

Still, there are something I didn't like about it. Chloe Moretz as a poorly animated werewolf. That was completely unnecessary. It didn't add anything. Then there is some jokes that's possibly a little dumb, but that's something that happens in nearly every comedy. Some may dislike this, believing it's failure in genre-mixing. Well, you have missed the point.

Awesome. Better than the first film. It's by no mean any cinematic masterpiece or whatever, not even a particularly great action film. But seeing all of these actors in the same film is just awesome. It's clearly that they did have fun when they made it, which affects me as a viewer. I had a blast. The action is good, there are some lines that are funny as hell, and the chemistry between all of them is perfect.

If I have to single out one particular actor from this awesome film, it would have to be Chuck Norris. His scenes are brilliant. Awesome. Kick-ass. Etc. If you've seen his scenes, you'll probably know what I'm talking about. Bring on the next film!

I guess I'm not the only one who is a bit tired of the "found footage"-genre. A genre that has produced a lot of poor films. Luckily, Chronicle is a little piece of fresh air. It's a film that's clearly made by some very competent people. The editing and special effects are superb. And the way the eventually decided to use the handheld camera is very effective and genius, and very much in line with the character development from the main character. Who is brilliant. The three teenagers gives very believable and credible performances that compensates for the lack of depth to the other characters.

It's a film that's filled with imagination. While things do get a bit carried away towards the ending, watching the boys learn and try out their powers is very entertaining. Watching them playing out tricks on small girls in the toys store or messing with a woman on the parking lot, it's incredibly fun! Naturally the film couldn't just include scenes like that, which is why we get an awesomely made, but still a bit disappointing ending that just didn't suite in with the rest of the film.

It's wonderfully animated. A beautiful mix of stop-motion and CGI. It's also a charming, clever and fun film, with several amusing references to older horror films. Making it at a good film to start introducing kids into horror films, or something.

It is a bit bugged down with all the different stereotypes it includes, and that it does constantly try to smash the story's morality into our heads. Particularly during the last act, which was a sweet (and quite spectacular moment), but it did get slightly annoying.

A Norwegian film with nearly just one Norwegian in front of the camera for the most part, and he plays a German. The film is about two British, and three German pilots who must work together to survive the cold, though Norwegian wilderness. To be honest, I were expecting the film to take a turn into a more intense and psychological film eventually, but it is more a sort of "feelgood"-film instead. It shows in a neat, and sometimes funny way how you can start of as enemies, but end up as friends in the end. And I was enjoying that.

It's wonderfully acted, particularly by Stig Henrik Hoff, and even Rupert Grint delivers a fine performance in his post Harry Potter role. The Norwegian wilderness is beautifully captured, and the musical score is exceptional. Director Petter Næss keeps the story under his control for the most part, but the ending feels somewhat rushed, and doesn't create the same impact as the other parts of the film did. It ends a bit to simple, and to predictable.

Surprisingly enjoyable. I believe that Timur Bekmambetov's Wanted is a kick-ass action film, so it was pleasant to see that he has evolved his visual style further. It is a silly (but awesome) premise and it makes for a good action film. The tone might be overly serious (not that it bothered me), but that doesn't mean it is a fun film nevertheless. If you think it is WAY TO SERIOUS, I would say that the joke is on you.

The film struggles a bit in handling the supporting roles, but Benjamin Walker gives a solid performance as Mr. President. And seeing as we're mostly just watching this film to see him slay vampires, I can to a certain degree overlook some thin supporting characters and other flaws. To a certain degree, at least.

This film was high on my mental list of films I were anticipating. I love serial killer films. Particularly from these days, when everything is just dark and dirty. The streets are covered in shit and blood. With macabre killings and such. Sadly, The Raven ain't the film I dared to hope for. It did kinda disappoint me a little.

It's worth mentioning that I have absolutely no relation or knowledge about Edgar Allen Poe. But after reading that there are still huge mysteries surrounding his death, I found this to be an interesting fictional "solution". The thing is, you shouldn't really take this film seriously. Even though I hoped for a serious film, it's nothing like Seven or something like that. Still, it features some really brutal and macabre kills. One of them is probably just as graphic as a trap from Saw V.

Shamefully, James McTeigue, who created the wonderful V for Vendetta, doesn't manage to do justice to the basics of the story. It struggles to figure out exactly what it wants to be. It's way to modern too be a costume drama-serial killer film, and as a pure serial killer film it bares a bit too many resemblances to TV-shows like CSI. Then there is some dumb things in the script. They mistake a fisherman for the killings. The fisherman has been in the town for five days. The murders obviously took longer than five days to prepare. And the ending after the actual ending is a bit silly.

However, it's looking great. The visuals are amazing, in the style of Sweeney Todd. So even if it sometimes gets a bit dumb, boring or John Cusack's Poe annoys you with his narcissism, there is always some impressive visuals to look at. You know, crows and stuff.

Brave is by all means a decent film, but when compared to what Pixar has dished up previously, it's safe to say that Brave is a major disappointment. It is however their greatest looking film so far. It's visually stunning and Merida's hair is very impressive.

I do like the first 40 minutes, which I find very enjoyable. I liked the direction the story was heading and I laughed quite a few times. Then it suddenly changed when the mother got turned into a bear. Comparing it to Brother Bear was unavoidable. I instantly thought it got much more tedious when that happened, and despite it pulling itself back up towards the end, it failed to reach true greatness.

You'll have to forgive me a bit when it comes to this film. I did occasionally almost fell asleep after the film had passed approximately one hour or something. That's possibly not the film's fault as I just saw it after an exhausting day at school, but it may also confirm what my first thought of this film was. That I think it's a little slow. I know this is a film that's supposed to be like that, but I've enjoyed several slow films before, so that's not the problem here. My problem here is that I don't find too much to enjoy in the slowness this time around.

Yes, it's a visual experience more than anything else, and Life of Pi does very often look like a beautiful postcard, but my fascination for the visuals does eventually settle down a bit. I've been used to it and then it's not that breathtaking any more (even if it is).

When it comes to the basic screenplay of the film, I'm not familiar with the source material, but I think the structure of the film is a bit messy and doesn't work that well when it comes to building up the film (the book might be the cause of this). The thing is, there is no doubt that Pi is going to survive, there's not even a slight possibility that he might die. By that, despite all the danger he's around, I never gets to engaged in his adventure. This is also a possible reason for why I think the film is a bit too slow.

Thematically and spiritually speaking I think the film handles its topic quite well. I do, unlike most people, like the ending. That's despite the spoon-feeding. I'm really not sure when it comes to my rating, but I settled on this. Man, this got messy.

It's a predictable and safe feel-good film about baseball and family that never reaches true heights because it never strays away from the familiar. It barely touches on some slightly darker sides, and probably more interesting topics, but it never dares to expand upon them. Which is a shame.

Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino beautifully marked the end of his acting career some years ago, but now he's back. And it's wonderful to see him back, and he still manages to show that he's a truly great actor. His chemistry with Amy Adams is very good, and it's because of them that this film becomes worthwhile.

I personally believe that The Amazing Soider-Man does the best job, out of the films so far, in portraying Peter Parker. I think that Andrew Garfield, despite being way too old to be an 17 year old high school kid, is exceptional in the role of Peter Parker. He manages to get the social awkwardness that Peter struggles with down to perfection. This is the cause for a lot of great comedy in the film. Garfield's take on Peter Parker is loads of fun. His chemistry with Emma Stone is also undeniably great. She is also much more effective as a love interest and not anywhere close to be as annoying as Kirsten Dunst was in Raimi's Spider-Man-films. The film does a great job in mixing the comedy with drama, Garfield and Stone is a much better duo than Tobey Maguire and Dunst, but that's not where this film struggles. Because, the bit that has to with Spider-Man is a bit underwhelming.

There is not really much Spider-Man fun. Certainly, the way he toys with car thief is amusing, but there is rarely I'm really enjoying the action in the film. Not that the effects are bad or anything, it's just that I did expect more from a Spider-Man-film in 2012. It's a bit underwhelming, a bit disappointing. I also think the film skips and jumps too fast over certain things in the way Parker transforms into Spider-Man. While it does address the same plot points that Raimi did in his Spider-Man, I personally think Parker's evolvement to Spider-Man is too sudden. Yes, we do already know the story, but this is an origins film as well.

One thing that also feels a bit underwhelming is the villain. While Rhys Ifans gives his best shot, I believe that he is wasted in this film. The Lizard is just not interesting. This is a poor villain, that appears to be way too cartoony. He is never given any proper development and Dr. Curt Connors sudden turn into a evil Lizard is just not that interesting or enjoyable. His interactions with Spider-Man is also surprisingly lackluster.

Beware, if your head can't tolerate nearly three hours of having pretty much every piece of dialogue sung, this ain't the film for you. I'm not the biggest fan of musicals myself, but despite it being definitely around 40 minutes to long, I got through it without too many problems. One of the main issues for me with this film is that there are several songs I don't like and that's a problem when many of them seems to go on forever. I do also think that nearly every character in this film is a bit boring. Certainly, they are capable to sing and throw some passion into their performances, but I don't really think that there's one strikingly memorable character here. People will remember the actors not the characters.

But there are several great things about, much of it which has to do with the production. Costumes, sets etc. I also think that the cinematography is magnificent. It manages to create to some truly sore, emotional moments, which is created by some terrific acting and, because of some beautiful songs. Most of them coming from Russell Crowe. He might not be a fantastic singer, but his voice and the way he sings strikes to me as one of the most enjoyable things in this film.

I think that the first Taken is a pure action masterpiece. It managed to combine intense, thrilling action together with some well-created characters, with a sympathizing performance from Liam Neeson, who managed to be bad-ass as well. Therefore, I guess that a sequel was inevitable. Luckily, it is much better than feared, but also not anywhere close to being as good as its predecessor. That probably means that it was as good as we could have hoped for!

I like the premise of it. It is something I've actually thought about previously. How come no one ever cares about all the henchmen? Don't they have a family? This time they do, and I think it is an interesting premise, that could possibly have been handled slightly better. Still, Rade Serbedzija is perfectly cast as the grieving father of one of the murdered kidnappers from the previous film.

But the Taken 2's biggest flaw lies surprisingly in the action. It ain't anywhere close to being as intense or thrilling as in the first film. Which also has something to do with the problem that we ain't as emotionally engaged this time. In the first film we could really feel Neeson's pain and emotions. By all means, it is still there, but it doesn't sting as deep. His search for his daughter were more intense than the search for his ex-wife. And the script would have to take some blame for that. It's just not that well-written.

However, even if the film ain't as good as Taken, it doesn't means it is a terrible film. It's still a decent action film and it features Liam Neeson. That's enough for me.

A surprisingly decent action thriller. While everything is certainly very predictable (the hotel guy being his father, his partner being dirty etc., there are still certain moments that are very exciting and thrilling. Much thanks to premise of a man on a ledge. It does result in some gripping action scenes eventually and from a claustrophobic point of view it's rather suspenseful at times.

But it is also a film that is troubled with some very variation in the acting. Sam Worthington might be a decent action hero, but he's rather weak in more emotional scenes. Ed Harris, Jamie Bell and Elizabeth Banks are mostly wasted in their roles. While Genesis Rodriguez is clearly just there to be eye-candy. She is looking good in her tight suits and pink underwear, though.

Going into this film with very low expectations after the dreadful second film might have made this more enjoyable than it actually I was. I was positively surprised. It's a dazzling and energetic film that at times is genuinely funny, making it the best film in the franchise.

The best thing in these films have always been the penguins and they are as awesome as ever, but luckily, the creators of the film seems to have noticed how poor and unfunny the rest of the characters was. They are upgraded this time around, making them slightly less awful.

It's strengths lies in the fast-paced action that rarely lets go. It's tightly edited with some superb chase scenes, car chases, fist fights and so on. The actors involved deliver solid performances, but they are not really needed in this film, seeing as there is basically no character development to trace here. While it certainly is more fun to see people like Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga and Brendan Gleeson go up against each other, someone else could easily have filled their roles.

But that's not really why we would watch this film anyway? It's nothing original or anything, everything is very predictable and you have basically seen the same thing several times before. The entertainment lies in the Jason Bourne inspired action scenes, that at times are very cool.

If you're going to introduce young children to classic film monsters, you're better of showing them Frankenweenie or Paranorman. Hotel Transylvania ain't a bad film. It's entertaining enough to kill some time.

But some awkward father/daughter moments and too childish jokes makes this less enjoyable than what it could have been. You can only take so much of Adam Sandler sounding like a weird Italian guy before you go mad.

I liked the first film a lot and I thought that the sequel was nearly just as fun. The third-and-hopefully last is a another step down. It's very often quite amusing, but never as funny as the two previous films were.

The problem might be that I find Tommy Lee Jones funnier than Josh Brolin, despite him making a believable performance as a younger Jones. There is also the problem with the villain. He is just boring.

Supposedly the biggest, most epic Norwegian film made so far. The ambitions are certainly there, but in the end, Kon-Tiki is a major disappointment. The problem lies in it's failure to engage. It's about a great, proud Norwegian moment, but it doesn't manage to evoke any national feelings. I'm left unaffected by it. It should also be way more intense than it is, with the exception of a few moments, there are rarely any scenes that makes my pulse go a bit higher. It's lacking some excitement, despite them putting several sharks in it.

But one can't deny how well-made it is. It is very beautiful too look at and the special effects are wonderful. The sharks looks intimidating, the whales are majestic and the sea is beautifully captured.

This was a film that I've been looking forward too for a long time, despite me not being too enthusiastic about this genre. It features a terrific cast and, my number one celebrity crush these last years, Kristen Stewart, were finally going topless. That alone makes this film worth watching. Other than that, it's not particularly much in this film that I would recommend. Keep in mind that I haven't read the book and probably would have gotten more out of this film if I had. But I shouldn't really have to rely on that in order to see a film.

It's a film that never manages to get above simply watchable. It's not a bad film, but it's not a good one either. It never becomes truly compelling. It's not engaging. Despite some terrific actors, few of the characters turns out to be interesting traveling companions during this overlong film.

I'm slightly disappointed. Not that I were expecting a masterpiece, but I were at least hoping for an entertaining film with the beautiful Kristen Stewart in the lead. But it does struggle a lot with it's pacing. Naturally the story ain't anything memorable, but there are too far between each entertaining moment. It's very often slightly boring.

It doesn't help that it is too grim for it's own good at times. It is obviously the more "serious" film out of the two Snow White-films this year, but I'm having a hard time enjoying myself watching this film. It doesn't help that the characters are bland, the acting is weak, even Charlize Theron doesn't manage to be sinister enough. Stewart is perhaps my number one crush, but even I find her to be slightly wooden. The talent is there, but it's not used in this film.

Besides a few redeeming moments that includes the dwarfs, some good action, Stewart in a surprisingly hot outfit and some outstanding visuals, this was mostly just mediocre.

Do I think there was a slight chance for a film about two old people and sex could avoid being awkward at any point? Not really. Was it awkward? Well, yeah. It was. But then again, you don't really see too many films handling this topic, do you? So in some ways it was kind of refreshing, I guess. Not a film I would watch with my mother, though.

The casting in this film is great. Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep is a perfect match, and there's something amusing about Lee Jones during the entire film. So, it is occasionally funny, even if it's more awkward than funny. I do also think that the everything got wrapped up a bit to quick and nicely.

There is nothing to say against the action, which is staying the same style as the previous films, meaning that Awakening is mostly entertaining. None of the films biggest strength have lied in the script, but it's safe to say that this film features the weakest script and story of the bunch.

It's however great to see Kate Beckinsale back after being absent from the last film, and she is probably going to be back for more, seeing as the film awkwardly sets up a sequel. This is the least entertaining or memorable film in the franchise, but it's decent enough.

It's a Jason Statham action film. And it was a surprisingly decent film as well. Certainly, he has done much better films than this, but seeing as this film is what it is, it passes as alright entertainment.

The first 30 minutes are dreadful, though. Watching Statham lurking around in self pity, on the edge of jumping in front of a train, is simply not watchable. Luckily, once things start happening, it's mostly enjoyable. Much killing and shooting and Statham kicking ass, you know, things we like. So it's mostly entertaining, probably better with some beer and friends.

Tarsem Singh is one of the most unique visionary directors living today. Every film he makes looks completely magical, making whatever James Cameron dishes up look like a pile of turd. Sadly, after Singh's brilliant The Fall, he hasn't managed to combine his beautiful visuals with a solid story. Mirror Mirror is by no means a terrible film, but it could and should have been better.

My biggest issue is actually that I just don't like Julia Roberts. I can't stand her. She's so annoying and ugly. I didn't completely mind the very childish and corny take the film took on this tale, and were at times amused by the dwarfs, Arnie Hammer and Lily Collins. It was a slightly below average fantasy comedy/action-film that got saved by some breathtaking visuals.

After 12 films, the franchise of the Norwegian private detective is finally over. And this is one of the better in a franchise that has been of very variating quality. This one marks the director debut of Trond Espen Seim, who has played the detective all the way through. And he proves himself as a minor talent.

He might struggle a bit with keeping the story exciting all the way through, and there are not really any moments that makes your pulse go high, but he does manage to create some nerve and intensity into some single scenes. He shows that he has some skills in establishing the right atmosphere for the required scene, which makes this an ok film.

I've never hated these films, I think people are being way to harsh on them. Of course, they are not particularly good films, (except the first film, yeah) but they are not that terrible. They have their share of stupidity, yes, but there are also some occasionally sweet and entertaining moments in them.

The last film in this franchise had the possibility to be quite solid, but there are unfortunately some problems with it. The most obvious one is that there ain't really a lot happening in here, except for the final battle, meaning that you didn't really have to make two parts out of Breaking Dawn. It could also have dived further into Bella finally being a vampire. They've just swept through it.

This is going to sound a bit weird, but the greatest and worst thing about this film lies in its ending. The final battle is awesome. While I was watching it I was constantly taken by surprise as important "heroes" got their head ripped off in a brutal manner. It made me go "Oh shit" and I was really enjoying myself through the entire battle, which actually lasted a while. Then there just had to be what's most likely the biggest cop out in recent history. The whole battle was just a vision. Fuck off, what an anticlimax that turned out to be.

I did really want to like this film more, after all, I'm weak for Kristen Stewart and she is much more enjoyable as vampire Bella than human Bella. But that final thing about the ending just pissed me off. Luckily, there are many cute moments here to begin with and some parts of the ending are awesome.

I thought it was alright. It's not particularly good, but it could have been a lot worse. I guess I liked it better because I was watching it with my girlfriend, but that's just a speculation. I thought it were funny sometimes and there were some cute moments.

But it's completely shallow, generic and over-stuffed with characters, whom few of them are given any significant treat of character development. I do also have a hard time believing that pregnancy is accurately portrayed in this film.

You can't go in to a film like this and expect a cinematic masterpiece. You do have to leave your brain home if you are going to get any kind of pleasure out of it. Because this is big, dumb, loud actionfilm that requires nothing and offers nothing. It's just simple entertainment.

The special effects are amazing. It's easily some of the best effects I've ever seen. Just the effects may make this film worth seeing, even if they are the only thing this film has to offer. Because while it is certainly very entertaining sometimes, it still drives me mad very often. It's far too long, the dialogue is awful, the acting is dreadful (not Liam Neeson. He is always awesome) and the constant action gets very tiresome eventually, if not a little bit repetitive. I felt like my head was gonna explode at some parts.