2012 highs, lows and favourite films

[Jeffbiscuits]

2012 is done. What were your favourite films, directors, actors, actresses and such? Your biggest surprises or letdowns?
For me 2012 was all about Prometheus, Dredd and The Hobbit. A new film from my favourite film series (my favourite film is Alien) and films based on a cherished childhood comic and my favourite book.
Overall I wasn't left wanting. Prometheus, while a lesser (plothole filled) installment in a mostly great series still delivered in many ways. Great effects, decent acting and genuinely tense moments make it one of the better scifi films of the year. The Hobbit, though not quite the story I know from the book was a smashing adventure film which looked beautiful and captured the feel of the book perfectly. Dredd was incredible though. The low budget didn't seem to be any kind of a hindrance and the end result was a rival to (and beater of) all of the big Summer blockbusters. A realistically portrayed Mega City One filled with references to the comics, some incredible special effects sequences (scenes where Dredd shoots lots of people in slow motion are breathtaking Karl Urban playing a perfect Dredd all make this easily my favourite film this year.
Other unexpected beauties were The Innkeepers, The Divide and The Raid. All three brilliant films in their own ways.
Avengers Assemble was a good diversion, but I never plan to see it again. Dark Knight Rises was everything I didn't like about TDK multiplied and lacking Heath Ledger. Very long, dull and infuriating. Cabin in the Woods was also a nice wee diversion. The end scenes with ALL the creatures were a spectacle I enjoyed.
All in all, it's all about Dredd, though. The best comic book film for years, my favourite film this year and a violent, satirical rival to Robocop. I loved it.

[CaptainCrazy]

Highs - Final chapter of Nolan's Batman trilogy (screw you, internet)
Lows - Audiences ignoring Dredd
Favourite film - Looper

[Jeffbiscuits]

I like the Dredd appreciation. It's an incredible film. Delivers everything that you expect it to in an enjoyable way. DKR is just an annoying film. Everything about it. Nolan was kind of half hearted with it.

[TheGuyver]

Highs for me. Argo was brilliant Looper i really enjoyed. But the highlight was Dredd. Loved it start to finish. Brutal gory and some cracking one liners. Also really enjoyed the avengers saw it in Imax same screen as fortune it was pretty special on big screen.


Lows. The Dark Knight Rises so many plot holes its not even funny. Dont get me wrong i enjoyed it first time i saw it was more wanting to see how Nolan wrapped up his trilogy but looking back. It annoyed me greatly a wasted opportunity

[Jonesy]

2012 was a godawful year for films. Admittedly I've yet to see Dredd, but I struggled to find a single film that I highly rated, whether foreign, indie or Hollywood.

[TheGuyver]

Watch Argo when its out on blu ray. To be fair those were only films i enjoyed last year.

[napoleon]

Like many others here, the best film I saw during 2012 was DREDD - a pity that it was mostly ignored by the media and therefore did not quite reach the potential (nor the audience) that it should have thanks (in part) to being shown just in 3D in all my local Cinemas!

Hopefully a sequel will be on the cards, especially since the Blu-Ray and DVD sales seem to have taken off nicely.

I have committed the immortal sin of not having seen THE HOBBIT yet and feel like perhaps the only person in England yet to see it! This is something I hope to remedy any day now. If what I have heard is correct, it should be a very enjoyable viewing.

[Firedragon76]

Highs:
Avengers (that could have gone incredibly wrong), Argo, Skyfall, Moonlight Kingdom, This Must be the Place, 7 Psychopaths, The Hobbit (24fps) even though it has its faults.

Lows:
TDKR - I was really hoping for it to be good, but no such luck
The Hobbit HFR version.
My co-worker not standing up in the cinema to sing along to Misty Mountains as announced very loudly beforehand.

Apparently I really have to watch Dredd.

[morris]

Good thread, biscuits. I've had to take some time to think about it.
Highs - Prometheus in IMAX 3D (gob-smacking, although I haven't had the urge to rewatch it on blu). TDKR, only just seen. Fincher's Dragon Tattoo. Avengers Assemble at cinema. No desire to rewatch or own, tho.

Lows - Cabin in the Woods: disappointing & wildly overrated, the plethora of found-footage horror. Being dragged to the last Twilight film - Noooooo! 2 hr torture that reduced me to a quivering wreck. Amazing Spider-Man - so meh. The number of sodding POP-UPS ON THE FORUM . Having our avs taken away and not getting them back.

gaps: not yet seen Looper, Dredd or Hobbit
Favourite - Skyfall or Sinister (even though Sinister's end was rushed and a bit naff)

[MrSilly]

Prior to what you may think, the world did in fact end in 2012. It ended because I enjoyed a Michael Haneke film. I enjoyed it so much I declared it the best film I'd seen all year. And I wasn't joking, Amour was a jaw-dropping piece of film.