Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever year” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids.
While Mirror Mirror and Wrath of the Titans had the flashy game (production value) and stacked rosters (cast), only one of them truly delivered.
Also showing up is Peace, Love & Misunderstanding; which screened at the Gasparilla International Film Festival this past weekend. Much like the two other flicks, this has a solid team comprised of Jane Fonda, Catherine Keener, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Elizabeth Olsen. This will stroll into select theaters on June 8th.
The new releases for the respective week will have a capsule review at the end of the column. A new poll comes out every Monday. Here’s how things are shaking up so far in 2012:
1. Chronicle
2. Red Tails
3. The Grey
4. Game Change
5. The Secret World of Arrietty
6. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
7. Friends with Kids
8. Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds
9. Big Miracle
10. 21 Jump Street
11. Brake
12. Mirror Mirror
13. This Means War
14. Gone
15. Jeff, Who Lives at Home
16. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
17. The Hunger Games
18. John Carter
19. Wrath of the Titans
20. Underworld: Awakening
21. The Devil Inside
22. Project X
23. Silent House
24. Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding
25. The Woman in Black
26. The Vow
27. Man on a Ledge
28. Contraband
29. Act of Valor
30. 4:44 Last Day on Earth
31. Safe House
32. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
33. Kill List
34. Haywire
35. A Thousand Words
36. Joyful Noise
37. Wanderlust
Not Screened: One for the Money, Casa De Mi Padre.
Wrath of the Titans
It fails in telling a compelling story, but the physical elements have a way of providing that escapism feeling, which numbs the pain of hearing some of the actors’ under-developed dialogue. The action sequences that wield amazing CGI and sharp cinematography does a lot in stereo with the 3D.
Mirror Mirror
A clever take on the classic Snow White story that smoothly weaves through exquisite set-pieces/designs. The cast of both newcomers (Lily Collins and Armie Hammer) and veterans (Julia Roberts and Nathan Lane) balance this fun, and surprisingly, engrossing script from beginning to storybook end.
Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding
While the characters have inviting personas for the audience to get to know, the story, well, there is no story. Hell, there’s barely a point. Aside from an inspired Jane Fonda, every aspect of this flick drags to a cardboard ending. It can derive a few chuckles in the middle, but the levels methodically drop as the piece crawls to a close.
Releasing this Friday: American Reunion, The Hunter
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