This'll be the only film on the list that I haven't yet reviewed. Therefore, this is the first time you will see me talk about it. The Hunger Games is a well acted adaptation that stays fairly close to the source material. Most exceptions are at the beginning, and Katniss' monologue has been replaced by dialogue between Seneca and Snow, but otherwise it remains very loyal to the book, unlike some other films I could name. However, the truly great part about the movie is how it retains the intelligence of the book. The filmmakers didn't look at this and think, "Hey, this novel is popular with teens, let's make some money off of it!". Instead, they put time into making something that doesn't betray the book, and isn't condescending to its audience either. Otherwise, it retains the best parts of the novel. The characters are interesting and likable, the story is intelligent and well made, and it's never so slow as to be dull. The only real problem would be the immense use of shaky cam for the action scenes, making it harder to understand, and the content cut from the introduction.
9. The Dark Knight Rises (review)
The conclusion to the Dark Knight trilogy is more cerebral than the previous two, but is still a satisfying end point. It plays upon a common idea in the Batman franchise: Is Batman the secret identity, or is Bruce Wayne? This internal conflict is interesting, especially when used in juxtaposition with the crisis at Wayne Enterprises and the underground operations of the Brotherhood of Shadows. The film has some things to say, as well. Bruce may have some serious issues manifested in his Batman persona, but when it comes down to it, he's the only person for the job. This is all before the actual action starts. When the action starts, the movie gets much more engaging. Bane has some good points, but his actions are clearly going way too far. The film is complex, yet also exciting. I just wish I had been more open-minded watching it.
8. 21 Jump Street (review)
It can be hard to talk about the excellence of good comedy, because it's not a deep character drama or even an excellent animated feature, it's a comedy. It succeeds by being funny. That's really what 21 Jump Street is, funny. I can't truly explain why it's great, especially if I want to remain spoiler-free. The performances are good, the script is strong enough to make the film engaging, and it's occasionally genuinely touching. The characters may be idiots, but they're good people. In the end, though, it's just a funny comedy. There is little else to say.
7. The Amazing Spider-Man (review)
I feel I may have overrated this film a little. It has its issues, primarily being a bit too dark. It's not as good as The Avengers. However, I stand by my other comments. The characters are incredibly likable. They are earnest, genuine people, who you want to end out well. On top of that, the movie's sense of humor is great. Spider-Man is witty as ever, launching wisecracks left and right. The movie's writing is great, and as said, you care about the characters. What is there to say even? That's what it comes down to. It's a great movie with great characters and a great plot.
6. Skyfall (review)
This would be the second time that Skyfall was on one of my best-of lists. As said, it's an amazing movie. My first Bond, it did a lot to convert me to the franchise, with an excellent script, great characters, and plenty of exciting scenes to go around. The acting, cinematography and music are all excellent, and each cast member fits their role perfectly. The antagonist is genuinely despicable, yet also very entertaining. The story has some actual symbolic elements near the end, fitting with the movie's intelligence. The dialogue is sharp and witty. When all's said and done, it endeared me to the Bond franchise, and that's something on its own.
5. Looper (reveiw)
Looper is an incredibly intelligent film, with many fresh ideas that are developed to the point of seeming plausible. Yet, it's not too hard to follow. On top of that, the characters are rather interesting. There are no real villains, as all the characters have strong justifications for their actions. Even the antagonist seems to be a decent person, despite how extreme as his methods are. However, the best part is the setting. This movie is science-fiction, and the setting isn't real, but it might as well be, because it's just as developed as Britain in Skyfall. Among sci-fi, Looper stands as one of the most interesting examples, with events that actually seem possible. Altogether, it simply seems realistic.
4. Argo (review)
Argo is a very intense film. It holds you on the edge of your seats, even if you know how it will end up. The characters are interesting and likable, and the run time goes by very quickly. The plot is based on real events, a fact that makes it even more interesting than it was before. It's also incredibly funny, with a clever wit that later serves to relieve the tension. There's a lot of tension, did I mention that? It's not entirely predictable if you're not familiar with the events its based on. Quite simply, it does history justice.
3. Wreck-It Ralph/Paperman (review)
Here we have a movie that does everything right. The characters are engaging and likable. The setting is well crafted and beautiful. The story is excellent. It also has a unique sense of humor, with over-the-top satire of game cliches. It's a movie that makes you feel the whole spectrum of emotions. Right off of an exciting action scene, there is a depressing emotional scene. The movie has such diversity in its tone that it can pull this off. Another part of the Wreck-It Ralph experience is the short that plays before the movie Paperman. It's a cute, pretty little piece of animation that uses some absolutely stunning cel-shading. It's worth checking out on its own, but it can't hold a candle to the main feature. Wreck-It Ralph may be one of the best animated films ever made.
2. ParaNorman (review)
Stop-motion is not the most popular form of animation. There's always a couple brilliant films of this type sitting around out there, but it simply isn't as popular as, say, CGI or traditional animation. However, when it's done, it's always in the hands of some brilliant studio with an artistic vision. Enter ParaNorman, a beautiful little film that some people may have overlooked for its stop-motion nature. For a PG rated film, it's actually incredibly dark. The animation is just as smooth as if it were made in CGI, but the entire film is made in stop-motion. The utter fluidity only adds to it's gorgeousness. The thing that endears me to the movie the most, however, is its artfulness. Altogether, there are many, many scenes where the animation goes beyond fluid and creates scenes of such incredible artistic beauty that it leaves you without words. I keep raving about the artfulness and animation, but it also has an excellent plot to keep the film moving. It's not empty, it's filled with care and meaning and is all tied together so masterfully. So what could be better?
1. Marvel's The Avengers (review)
The Avengers may not be an artistic masterpiece like ParaNorman on its side, but it's good for other reasons. This film is a perfect blend of action and character, the best trait for an action movie to have. More than that, though, is the feeling of payoff. It's like and excellent finale to a great TV series. These were characters you came to know through their previous movies. They're already developed, they just need to come together and kick some rear. That's what this is. An amazingly crafted conclusion to one of the best events in modern cinema. It's pure, uncut awesomeness, and if that's not your thing, the characters are well made and the script is also very good, so there's something for those of you who aren't into action movies as well. I cannot think of a more deserving film for the number 1 spot.
That concludes my year-end listings. I hope we can return again on the weekend, and here's to hoping for another great year of cinema.
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