Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids.
Just one new player entered the vaunted rankings this week and let’s just say the sturdy franchise may have seen better days. Ice Age 4 had the spirit, but its strategy seems to be slipping away. On the other side of the spectrum, a Norwegian product, Headhunters, proved that they can do certain things better than the revered Hollywood league. And finally, Chronicle is nervous as it has to compete this Friday with what could very well be one of the best in 2012.
The new releases for the respective week will have a capsule review at the end of the column. An updated list comes out every Monday. Here’s how things are shaking up so far in 2012:
1. Chronicle
2. The Cabin in the Woods
3. The Avengers
4. Moonrise Kingdom
5. Red Tails
6. The Grey
7. Game Change
8. The Secret World of Arrietty
9. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
10. Friends with Kids
11. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
12. The Raid: Redemption
13. Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds
14. Big Miracle
15. Think Like a Man
16. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted
17. Brake
18. Rock of Ages
19. HeadHunters
20. Mirror Mirror
21. People Like Us
22. Magic Mike
23. Ted
24. 21 Jump Street
25. Snow White and the Huntsman
26. This Means War
27. God Bless America
28. The Three Stooges
29. Gone
30. The Amazing Spider-Man
31. Blue Like Jazz
32. American Reunion
33. Jeff, Who Lives at Home
34. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
35. Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best
36. Katy Perry: Part of Me
37. Ice Age: Continental Drift
38. Juan of the Dead
39. Prometheus
40. Hysteria
41. The Dictator
42. Safe
43. Searching for Sonny
44. Brave
45. The Hunger Games
46. John Carter
47. Wrath of the Titans
48. Dead Dad
49. Underworld: Awakening
50. The Devil Inside
51. Livid
52. The Five-Year Engagement
53. Downtown Express
54. Savages
55. Sound of My Voice
56. Project X
57. Men in Black 3
58. Piranha 3DD
59. Dark Shadows
60. The Raven
61. Silent House
62. That’s My Boy
63. Darling Companion
64. Bully
65. What to Expect When You’re Expecting
66. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
67. Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding
68. Lockout
69. The Woman in Black
70. The Vow
71. Man on a Ledge
72. Extraterrestrial
73. The Lucky One
74. Contraband
75. The Samaritan
76. Act of Valor
77. 4:44 Last Day on Earth
78. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
79. Safe House
80. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
81. To Rome with Love
82. The Pirates! Band of Misfits
83. Kill List
84. Chernobyl Diaries
85. Haywire
86. Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection
87. A Thousand Words
88. Joyful Noise
89. Battleship
90. Wanderlust
Not Screened: One for the Money, Casa De Mi Padre, Chimpanzee, High School
REVIEWS (click on title for full write-up)
It ends up being a harmless piece of light entertainment. Certain aspects of this give-off that going-through-the-motions vibe, but the tactical insertion of new characters will keep you casually involved in what’s happening…even though it’s the same old story, same old song and dance. And just not as laugh-out-loud-ish as its predecessors.
While the plot is serious, the tone and delivery have an entertaining charm; similar to an Ocean’s Eleven and/or The Thomas Crown Affair remake. In other words, there’s a decent amount of times when the script attempts comedy and nails it for the most part within the deadly chess match. The cat-n-mouse chase between two white-collar criminals, disguised as elegant business men, can also double as a engaging sociological study as well.
FOLLOW JOE BELCASTRO ON HIS NEWLY CREATED TWITTER
LISTEN TO JOE’S LIVE RADIO SHOW, THE CINEMATIC ORDER.
