Top 10 Best Movies of 2012

This is my list of the years 10 best films.

10. The Dark Knight Rises
9. Prometheus
8. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
7. The Avengers
6. Flight
5. Looper
4. Cabin in the Woods
3. Argo
2. Django Unchained
1. Silver Linings Playbook
Happy New Year and as always Happy Viewing!
 

Django Unchained review

Loud, gory, and bloody awesome! Django Unchained will not disappoint. Now for some it may be a "bit much" but if you don't mind lots of blood, guns, and racial slurs it's some fun, classic Quentin Tarantino. Starring Jaime Foxx as a gun-toting ex-slave and Christoph Waltz who plays the part beautifully as his bounty hunter partner. This movie is written and directed by Quentin Tarantino and promises an original story, lots of violence, and even some laughs. Oscar worthy. I myself am a big Tarantino fan and loved Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, and Inglorious Bastards and I loved Django Unchained just as much. The movie is about a slave named Django (Foxx) who is freed by a bounty hunter posing as a dentist, Dr. King Schultz  (Waltz) because he needs information on three criminals known as the Brittle Brothers. Django gives it to him and they become bounty hunting partners until spring, when Schultz takes him to free his wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) from a plantation owner, Calvin Candie. (Leonardo DiCaprio) Gun fights, blood, and just awesome acting from Christoph Waltz and Samuel L. Jackson ensue. Some great shots in this movie and very worthy of awards. Even Tarantino himself shows up for a short scene. My opinion? Watch it! I give Django Unchained 4.8 out of 5 stars. Happy Viewing! Follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook and email me at whitsmovies98@gmail.com.

#tbt Fight Club review

Honestly, this movie's gonna be hard to review. I'm not saying that in a bad way but it's so complex, awesome, and trippy that you can't really look at it like every other movie. Fight Club, directed by David Fincher, starring Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, and Helena Bonham Carter is actually really good. It's about an office drone (Norton), who, after befriending a stranger named Tyler Durden, (Pitt) get's his life turned upside down. He and Tyler create Fight Club, an underground boxing club, and start getting more and more members until it reaches epic proportions, and becomes almost like a cult. But towards the end you figure out that things may have not been as they seem. I particularly liked this movie because it kinda blew your mind, (pardon my cliche) it made you question who you were. It also never bored you, it made sit on the edge of your seat wondering what would happen next, it was awesome. Watch this movie. I will most likely review Django Unchained tomorrow or Saturday so keep watch. You can follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/whitsmovies?ref=hl. Happy Viewing!

Jack Reacher review

Car chases, pretty women, fights, guns, and one cool hero. Jack Reacher holds all the elements of a classic action hero with some twists and turns. This movie is not only cool and fun to watch but surprisingly relevant. There have been some awful, scary, and senseless mass shootings in the past year and this story focus's on a "random" public shooting. The alleged killer, James Barr, is brought into custody but soon put into a coma by some prison gangsters. The attorney defending Barr, Helen Rodin, and ex-Military Police drifter, Jack Reacher, put their heads, and fists, together to find out what really happened. Throughout the film corruption is uncovered, Jack Reacher is accused of murder, and things are not what they seem. With a fairly satisfying ending and the (possible but slightly unlikely) promise of a sequel, Jack Reacher's worth a try. Based on the 2005 novel by Lee Child (which I have read, by the way) starring Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Werner Herzog, and Robert Duvall. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie. I give Jack Reacher 3.7 out of 5 stars. Happy Viewing! Follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/whitsmovies?ref=hl.

#tbt A Few Good Men review

For today's Throwback Thursday review I've decided to review the 1992 court-based drama directed by Rob Reiner, starring Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, Kevin Pollack, and Jack Nicholson. A great movie with a great cast, A Few Good Men is a movie that you tend not to forget. Jack Nicholson delivers a unforgettable performance as Colonel Nathan Jessup with his memorable line "You can't handle the truth!". Basically the movie's about A Navy lawyer, Kaffee (Cruise), who is defending two soldiers accused of killing a fellow soldier. Through sheer cleverness and two terrific lawers at his side (Moore and Pollack) Kaffee gives this case a chance it didn't seem to have. A riveting movie that I think was robbed of an Oscar, it's something you sure should watch. Maybe even more than once. Happy Viewing! Speaking of Tom Cruise I plan on reviewing Jack Reacher today or tomorrow so keep watch. You can follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook.

 

#tbt Adaptation review

For this week's Throwback Thursday review, I'll be reviewing the 2002 dramedy Adaptation starring Nicholas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper and Tilda Swinton. This movie is, in a nutshell, about itself. You see, Charlie Kaufman, who wrote this and the hilarious Being John Malkovich, had writers block when trying to adapt the book The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean into a movie so he made a movie about the experience and added some theatrical elements like a twin brother of his and a drug trade in Florida. This movie starts out normally with Charlie Kaufman (Cage) hating on himself and trying to adapt his book into a movie. Soon enough you meet Charlie's twin brother Donald Kaufman (also Cage) who lives with Charlie and is writing a script of his own. Soon, the movie takes an unexpected twist when Charlie and Donald trail Susan Orlean (Streep) and find out more than they bargained for. The end is emotional with a funny twist. One thing i liked about this movie is it makes fun of itself with out over doing it. Poignant and fresh, Adaptation is good, not amazing, but good. Happy Viewing! Watch out for my Hobbit review tomorrow or Saturday! Follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook!

Life of Pi review

Whoops sorry this review is so late! I saw Life of Pi Sunday night and just didn't get a chance to do a review. Here it is.
I walked into the movie theater expecting a boring movie with little to no substance that wouldn't live up to the book. I was dead wrong. The movie (while not being THAT great) was pretty damn good. It had lots of emotion and great acting, despite Suraj Sharma being pretty much the sole actor, (and of course a Bengal tiger) a riveting plot and mind-blowing effects. Life of Pi is about a boy who's family is moving themselves along with their zoo from India to Canada by a cargo ship, the Tsimtsum. The ship sinks and the sole survivors are Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel and a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Throughout Pi's long time at sea he encounters a carnivorous island, dehydration, storms of epic proportions, and of course, the tiger. At first you may blow this movie off, but believe me it's not as bad as one might think. Now the movie itself was fine, no Oscars here, but it was generally good. But the special effects and production design was just incredible. Even just the scenes where Pi was alone on the calm water were great. Even some shots alone were enough to see it. One shot is of Pi floating beneath the surface of the ocean looking above at the sinking ship. This shot was mind-boggling in how good it was. I also recommend seeing this in 3D, it's worth the extra four bucks. Even if the plot of this movie isn't your thing, see it for the cinematography. I give it 3.9 out of 5 stars. Happy Viewing! Follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and Like me on Facebook.

 

#tbt Donnie Darko review

For today's Throwback Thursday review, I am reviewing the 2001 drama/mind fuck/thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary McDonnell, Drew Barrymore, and Patrick Swayze. Overall? This movie is great. Very weird but great. It is a great portrayal of a troubled kid but with enough other elements to keep you glued to the T.V. It's about Donnie Darko, a teen with psychological issues, who after a freak incident, befriends a giant talking rabbit who manipulates him to commit crimes and sleepwalk. Donnie starts to see things and finds in old book about time travel that explains his visions. All of this leads up to the climax where everything is explained... and things are changed. The acting and plot to this movie are really superb. It's definitely a really good movie. But keep in mind, it's not for everyone. I hope to do a review of something soon, (Red Dawn, Life of Pi?) but until then, Happy Viewing! Follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook.
 
    

Wreck-It Ralph review

Yesterday I saw the animated action-comedy Wreck-It Ralph. I wasn't particularly excited to see this movie at first considering it was just a "kids" movie that got decent reviews but I have to admit, it surprised me. Wreck-It Ralph is about video game characters that come to life after the arcade closes. specifically one character Ralph, who works in the game Fix-It Felix Jr. In this game Ralph is a bad guy who everyone hates.     So, Ralph gets sick of this and goes "game jumping" where he goes to another game to win a medal. After a lot of stuff happens, Ralph ends up in a candy-themed racing game called "Sugar Rush" where he meets glitch character Vannelope who needs his help. Things turn out to be more than meets the eye and Ralph goes on an ad venture of a lifetime involving cyber-bugs and an evil character named Turbo. Wreck-It Ralph is enjoyable whether you are five years old or twenty-five years old. The animation is especially cool and it's fun to see nods to old and new video games. Wreck-It Ralph may not win any Oscars (although with the slim pickings for Best Animated Feature, it may) but it doesn't disappoint. I give it 3.9 out of 5 stars. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook. Happy Viewing.
    

#tbt The Expendables 2 review

I thought The Expendables 2 would be an appropriate Throwback Thursday review considering almost the whole cast is a throwback of '80's action movie stars. Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dolph Lundgren, even Bruce Willis star in this trigger-happy explosion-sploitation movie. Basically the plot (but seriously, who the hell is seeing this movie for the plot) is about a team of mercenary's who carry out missions for people. Bruce Willis' character is mad at Sylvester Stallone's character and has them seize five tons of plutonium but it falls into the wrong hands, they lose a soldier, and go to take it back/get revenge yadda, yadda, yadda, some explosions, catchphrases, and a whole lot of bullets then this movie is over. Okay so the movie wasn't that bad. It was entertaining and it was fun to see Jason Statham kick ass. the editing in this movie is pretty cool too, a huge step from the cheesy looking '80's. The movie's plot was sorta weak and the acting could be a tad better but hell, if you want an explosion-y action movie that's fun to watch with friends, this is a good choice. Follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook. Happy Viewing!

Silver Linings Playbook review

Incredible. Silver Linings Playbook was this and so much more. With some incredible performances by Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence and a great supporting cast of Robert De Niro and Chris Tucker. This may be the best movie of the year, no joke. In this masterpiece, Pat played by Bradley Cooper, is a man with some issues getting released from a mental hospital after assaulting his wife's lover and figuring his life out. Tiffany played by Jennifer Lawrence plays a widowed dancer who has issues of her own and some thing for Pat. I don't really wanna give much away, but basically Pat still "loves" his wife Nikki who cheated on him even though she has a restraining order on him and wants to get back together with her. Tiffany is willing to help Pat, for a price and through the experience Pat and Tiffany grow closer. Robert De Niro plays Pat's Philadelphia Eagles loving father who just wants good luck. Overall this movie was terrific. Bradley Cooper kills it in this role. Jennifer Lawrence is Oscar-worthy and as beautiful as ever. The whole movie rocks. Do yourself a favor, GO SEE IT! I give it 5 out of 5 stars. Follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook at Whit's Movie Reviews.
   

Flight review

Best performance in years. Denzel Washington killed it in Flight. In the movie he plays a troubled, alcoholic pilot who, through a series of maneuvers, crashes the plane in an open field. Doing this while drunk and high on cocaine. After the accident Denzel or his character, William "Whip" Whitaker, is hailed as a hero, but word gets out that he had alcohol in his bloodstream at the time of the crash and has to get a lawyer and go through several complicated processes to prove the plane crash was a technical error and had nothing to do with him being intoxicated. The movie was good but Denzel Washington blew me away doing his best performance I've ever seen him in. I predict for him to win Best Actor or at least get a nomination in this years Oscars. Do yourself a favor, go see Flight. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. Happy Viewing.
  

#tbt Reservoir Dogs review

For this weeks Throwback Thursday, I've decided in honor of it's 20th anniversary, to review the Quentin Tarantino classic, Reservoir Dogs starring Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel, Chris Penn, and others. This movie is about a group of criminals who try to pull off a diamond heist until everything goes wrong. I may consider this as one of my favorite movies. Tim Roth is great as the always bloody Mr. Orange or Freddy Newandyke and Steve Buscemi is memorable as Mr. Pink. This movie, although short and bloody, is enjoyable and very memorable. My verdict? Watch it ASAP. Happy Viewing! Follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies

Skyfall review

Action, babes, and a great plot. These are the elements that made such good Bond films like Dr. No and Casino Royale. Skyfall brought it all back in this terrific sequel. Daniel Craig has never been more suave and badass. In this 23rd James Bond movie shows us the classic MI6 agent vulnerable and aged after a mission in Turkey gone wrong. Despite his many psychological and physical problems, M, played beautifully by Judi Dench, sends him on a tough mission that takes him to Shanghai than an deserted island. The new villain also played well by Javier Bardiem, is an ex-MI6 agent who has a bone to pick with the agency. The whole movie is directed well by Academy Award Winning Director Sam Mendes and the movie just fits well. With an emotional ending and a promise of a sequel, Skyfall doesn't disappoint. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. Watch out for a new #tbt review on Thursday and also follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook at Whit's Movie Reviews, and as always, Happy Viewing!
 

#tbt The Big Lebowski review

For today's Throwback Thursday review I am reviewing the 1998 Coen brothers comedy The Big Lebowski starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. This is one of my all-time favorite movies. It's not my favorite ever, (Looper, Reservoir Dogs, or The Shawshank Redemption take that title) but it sure is good. It's about Jeff Lebowski, or The Dude, as he's called, an unemployed stoner and bowler who through mistaken identity gets his rug peed on which spawns other hilarious events. He ends up trying to figure out a kidnapping, gets his car stolen, and goes to In-and-Out Burger. This movie is very funny and a classic Coen brothers movie. I would recommend it to almost anyone. This movie is on Netflix Instant if you'd like to watch it. I hope to review Skyfall or Flight tomorrow or possibly a double review. You can also follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies. Happy Viewing!
  

#tbt The Raven review

Ah, Throwback Thursday time again. This Thursday I am reviewing the Gothic thriller The Raven starring John Cusack as legendary poet Edgar Allen Poe. In this movie A series of murders are committed that are based on Poe's macabre poems and stories. Basically a murder is committed and the detective realizes it's based on an Edgar Poe story, finds Poe to help with the case, more murders happen, Poe's fiancee is kidnapped by the killer, and a dangerous game of cat and mouse ensues. I liked this movie but I didn't love it and I certainly didn't hate it. John Cusack is good as the alcoholic poet and it isn't boring. It does however have a slightly depressing ending so be prepared for that. Watch this movie if you are looking for some easy suspense but not a thought provoking masterpiece. Keep watch because I may review a movie today or tomorrow. Happy Viewing!
    

Argo review

Terrific. That is the one word to describe Ben Affleck's new thriller Argo. Ben Affleck sure has come a long way from Daredevil and Pearl Harbor. Gone Baby Gone was good, The Town was better, and Argo is a masterpiece. Basically, Argo is about six people who escape the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran and are being sought after by Iranian revolutionaries. Ben Affleck's character named Tony Mendez creates a plan for the C.I.A to get the    people called "house guests" out of Iran. His plan is to disguise him and the house guests as a film crew scouting an exotic location for a science fiction movie called Argo. Ben Affleck is great as the troubled Mendez, and Alan Arkin and John Goodman shine as Hollywood celebrities who help Tony Mendez out. I especially liked Rory Cochrane in his role (Scanner Darkly shout out!). My suggestion? See Argo ASAP! I give it 4 out of 5 stars. Check for a new #tbt review next Thursday! Happy Viewing!
 

Cloud Atlas review

Reincarnation. Love. Hugh Grant as a cannibal. These are all things in the complex drama/science fiction/romance/adventure movie Cloud Atlas starring Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving and many, many more. Cloud Atlas is about multiple characters lives crossing over multiple time spans. I have to say although this was not the greatest movie ever it was actually kinda awesome. Even though the movie was over 2 hours long it kept your attention the whole way through. I never got bored of it. Also hats off to the Wachowskis who directed it with Tom Tykwer (the Wachowskis do a better job though) for making something like this so cool. The movie must have been incredibly hard to film but they pulled it off. The movie is pretty hard for me to explain to you because it involves six stories over a bunch of different times one in old islands in somewhere in the 1700's, one in 1936 England, one in 1973 San Francisco, one in present-day 2012, one in a totalitarian future in Korea, and one (my favorite story in the movie) in a post-apocalyptic future in Hawaii or somewhere. It is complex but enjoyable and confusing but awesome. Just go see it. I give Cloud Atlas 3.5 out of 5 stars. Happy Viewing!
P.S. I may review Argo today so keep watch!
 

#tbt The Book of Eli review

For this weeks Throwback Thursday review I am reviewing the 2009 Denzel Washington post-apocalyptic thriller The Book of Eli. Denzel Washington is a pretty badass guy. He's starred in a butt load of movies, some great, some mediocre, and some awful. The Book of Eli was maybe a tad above mediocre. It was cool, enjoyable enough, with a decent plot. Although boring at some times, (mostly the beginning) it was still kinda kick-ass. Now this was no Oscar winner and we know that, but it was an interesting action movie and Mila Kunis was in it so that was a payoff. Basically it's about a dude named Eli, (Denzel Washington) who was told by God where the last known Bible is and is going east to find a safe haven from a war-torn post-apocalypse America. Along the way he meets Solara, (Mila Kunis) and is chased by cannibals and a power-hungry criminal Carnegie (Gary Oldman). If you wanna watch something were you don't have to think a ton but you don't wanna watch some shit like Transformers 2, this is a pretty good choice. Keep watch for a new review because I am hoping to watch either Cloud Atlas, Fun Size, or Argo. If I have my way I will review Cloud Atlas or maybe I'll do a double review. Happy Viewing!
  

Paranormal Activity 4 review

Yikes! This movie sure was scary, but not in the way you think. Paranormal Activity 4 was scary in how bad it was and in how similar it was to the last two movies. It's main protagonist is a 15 year old girl named Alex who lives in Nevada. A new neighbor moves in and the boy acts very strange, when his mom has to go to the hospital the boy has to stay with Alex and his family. Alex hears bumps, sets up cameras, her little brother starts acting weird, blah blah blah. At the end (SPOILER) everyone dies and everything goes pretty much as expected. This one was less scary because the "real footage" element was taken away when Alex's boyfriend is played by a fairly well known actor. (Matt Shively) This movie was not scary and even boring at times. Don't waste your money. I give it 1.5 out of 5 stars. Look out for a new Throwback Thursday review next Thursday. I am thinking of reviewing Book of Eli. Happy Viewing!

#tbt Team America: World Police review

For this Throwback Thursday review I will be reviewing the hilarious comedy Team America: World Police. It stars Matt Stone and Trey Parker and is directed by Trey Parker. I thought this movie was incredibly funny. It is about a Broadway star who is recruited by a government agency who tries to stop terrorism with hilarious results. I thought this was one of the funnier movies of the decade. I especially loved the funny songs like America, Fuck Yeah! and when Kim Jong Ill sings about how lonely he is. I highly recommend it. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. Watch this movie!

#tbt A Scanner Darkly review

As part of my first annual Thursday tradition I am reviewing a movie not in theaters. This is Throwback Thursday. Today I am reviewing the 2006 sci-fi thriller starring Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr, Woody Harrelson, and Winona Ryder. Directed by Richard Linklater. This great flick was based on the book by legendary science fiction writer Philip K. Dick. I have both read and watched them both and have to say I loved them both. They held your attention and showed you what life would be like as a drug addict and dealer living in an authoritarian society. The characters had so much depth and you got so into the story, it was art. Keanu Reeves in one of his best performances and Robert Downey Jr. just completing owning his role created a great experience. It was a cool movie. Another cool thing was the movie was shot in a technique called rotoscoping, where you film regularly than animate over it. The movie and book were both terrific and I strongly recommend them. I hope to review Seven Psychopaths tomorrow or over the weekend so keep watch!
 

Taken 2 review

Yesterday I saw the revenge action sequel Taken 2. It starred Liam Neeson as the ass-kicking protagonist, Bryan Mills, an ex-CIA father who killed a lot of sex traffickers in the first film, Maggie Grace as his beautiful daughter, and Famke Jenssen as his slightly annoying ex-wife. Basically The relatives of  the people Bryan Mills killed in the first movie kidnap Bryan and his wife as revenge and try to kidnap his daughter (again) but she remains un-kidnapped.(that is a word right?) I thought it was kinda similar to the first movie with maybe a little more action. The plot was so-so but Liam Neeson made up for everything by kicking so much ass that it made the movie a lot better. Of course it's not Oscar material but what were you expecting, it was fun to watch and wasn't boring. I give it 3 out of 5 stars and 4.5 out of 5 ass-kicking stars! I hope to review Argo or Seven Psychopaths next week but might not be able to. I also am going to start a segment which I call Throwback Thursdays were I review an older not in theaters movie. I also am going to start ending reviews with home viewing recommendations of movies to watch at home, today's is Blade Runner. A great sci-fi noir thriller loosely based on the great Philip K. Dick novel. Happy Watching!

Looper review

I recently went to the movie theater to see the film Looper starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as an assassin for the mob who takes out targets sent back from the future. When the mob wants to "close the loop" they send your future self back and you kill yourself. You do get a decent amount of gold and get to be retired for the next 30 years. When Joe's (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) future self (Bruce Willis) comes back before Joe can kill Old Joe, Old Joe escapes and action, drama, and excitement ensues. Emily Blunt is also good as a protective farming mother who is the mom of a very special child. Old Joe tries to kill her son for reasons I won't say so not to ruin the movie and Joe tries to stop it. I thought the movie was very well made and very awesome. Although it gave you a headache at times, it had a very satisfying ending. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

first post, Hello!

Hello! I am a new blogger and an amateur film director. I like to make and watch movies and I like to make jokes. This blog is movie reviews with other stuff thrown in. My next post will hopefully be tomorrow or Saturday where I will review the new movie Looper with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt. Also I had an old blog where I was trying to do something else with spider man but ended up messing up and I don't know how to delete it. Anyway, I'll try to post for new movies and not be bias in my reviews. Thanks!