With the Academy Awards just one week away, I thought this would be a great opportunity to reflect on what I thought were this past year’s triumphs and flops in cinema, and look forward to what 2012 has in store for the moviegoing masses.
There were many movies that I enjoyed in 2011 such as “X-Men: First Class,” “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” and “The Muppets.” Then there were movies I completely disliked, such as “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” “The Thing” and “The Green Hornet.”
What surprised me the most about 2011 were the nonconventional movies that have been nominated for Academy Awards. “The Artist,” a black and white silent film, (something unusual for this day and age,) has been nominated for Best Picture and looks like it may walk away with the award. It’s films like these that break the conventional mold of Hollywood and showcase brilliant works of cinematography. I truly enjoy the risk filmmakers take in these releases.
We also saw a big push toward 3-D film production in 2011 as it increased more than 50 percent regardless of poor sales compared to non-3-D showings, based on the number of 3-D movies released in 2010 compared to 2011.
With ticket prices that are three to four dollars more than standard ticket prices, who can blame audiences for not attending 3-D movies? But with the Academy Award nominees released, and 2011 in our past, it’s time to look at what 2012 has in store.
See opening night successes
1. “Prometheus” – 6/8
2. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” – 12/14
3. “The Avengers” – 5/4
4. “The Hunger Games” – 3/23
5. “The Bourne Legacy” – 8/3
“Prometheus”
The film that I’m probably most excited for this year is Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus.” Charlize Theron (“Monster”) and Michael Fassbender (“Inglorious Basterds”) lead the way in this deep space sci-fi horror flick as a group of scientists searching for the origins of mankind on Earth. While Scott said the film is not a prequel to his genre defining “Alien” franchise, it does have subtle hints that I’m sure fanboys everywhere will enjoy.
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”
With Peter Jackson back at the helm, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the prequel to his monumentally successful “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, looks to be the movie to see this holiday season. Starring Martin Freeman (“Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy”), Ian McKellen (“The Lord of the Rings”) and Richard Armitage (“Captain America: The First Avenger”), the action and adventure that made “The Lord of the Rings” so good looks to radiate throughout these two prequel installments.
Save your money
1. “Mirror Mirror” – 3/30
2. “The Dark Knight Rises” – 7/20
3. “The Raven” – 4/27
4. “Men in Black 3” – 5/25
5. “Battleship” – 5/18
“Mirror Mirror”
In what looks to be possibly one of the worst movies of 2012, “Mirror Mirror” stars up-and-coming actress Lily Collins (“The Blind Side”) as Snow White and Julia Roberts (“Pretty Woman”) as the Evil Queen. The film looks as if it appeals to a younger audience with its style of humor and gags. With “Snow White and the Huntsman” starring Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron coming out this summer I’d save your money and see that film instead.
“The Dark Knight Rises”
This film is really up in the air for me, and I’m sure my opinion will cause some controversy. With a stellar cast that includes Christian Bale (“The Dark Knight”), Tom Hardy (“Inception”) and Anne Hathaway (“The Devil Wears Prada”) it has the potential to be great. However with all the hype that this film is receiving and the standards it has to live up to, I don’t believe Christopher Nolan will pull it off.
