The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

A sombre thriller-mystery with a Scandinavian backdrop, TGWTDT follows an unlikely duo who are hired by an old man to investigate the disappearance of his niece 40 years prior. Mikael, a disgraced journalist is joined by Lisbeth, an anti-social computer hacker as they uncover the family's many secrets and the evils that still lurk on the island. At times too bleak, the film would've benefited from more music to break it up a bit and there is an unforgettably strange scene involving Enya's Orinoco Flow.  While there are plenty of twists and layers to unravel and the setting is interesting enough it also feels foreign throughout and this makes it difficult to connect with the characters. That said, since the mystery genre is under-represented these days and this is coupled with a satisfying story, it is easy to recommend this one for repeat viewing.

7.5/10

Cloud Atlas (2012)

A fantasy-drama with a romantic, sci-fi feel to it, Cloud Atlas is a strange beast that overwhelms the viewer with 6 story-lines that span our past, present and future. The casting is massive and helps tremendously, so prepare to know almost everyone and to see them recycled in unrecognisable ways over the ages. I particularly enjoyed the freed-slave friendship and a clone named Somni's awakening story but there's something for everyone here. Short vignettes from each period invite you to explore the depths of the links between each story, to your own preference, and the heroic flow on of events over time is subtle and charming. The visuals are truly brilliant and while the soundtrack leans heavily on the Cloud Sextet, it binds their shared history together just nicely. My least favourite story was, funnily enough, the 'current' 2012 one but the oddly comedic, great escape for old people still had its merit. Buy it, watch it again and again and keep your mind open over the years. 

10/10

Looper (2012)

An intelligent time-travel flick, Looper is centred on Joe, a mob hit-man who kills targets sent back in time to him via time-travel. The plot thickens when Joe's future self is sent back in time to be killed by his present self; we are then artfully given two alternate endings which loop back to whether Joe fulfils his duty or allows his future self to live. With the potential to be confusing, the film is cleverly put together and, for the time being, fills a gap in the Terminator niche that really needed filling. The soundtrack is subtly used for dramatic effect and I definitely loved the inclusion of Chuck and Mac's - Powerful Love. The only fault here is the deflating ending - which is a big deal - but I have to give the movie a pass on this because the journey up until then was almost perfect and in a roundabout way you can choose your own ending. Watch it again many times.

9/10  

Pitch Perfect (2012)

A descendent of Glee, Pitch Perfect follows Beca and Jesse who join two different a capella groups hoping to eventually compete in a national tournament. Part romantic comedy, part musical and infused with a fraternity/sorority Greek element, there's a host of interesting sub-stories and characters yet this is definitely not everyone's cup of tea. At times horribly catty, the songs are well-chosen from pop hits and performed admirably and, for the most part, enjoyably. Beneath the story is a clichéd 'be yourself and don't be afraid to change' type moral which, in all fairness, is a worthwhile message worth repeating. Worth watching again in the background while not taking it too seriously.

7/10

Chronicle (2012)

Unusual, Chronicle is a faux-doco style film about 3 boys who discover an alien presence which bestows telekinetic abilities upon them. Initially party tricks, their competency improves until they are able to fly and control large objects with their minds. Inevitably, this escalates as Andrew, who comes from an abusive household, becomes corrupted by the powers to the detriment of the group.  Void of music, this kind of works with the feel of the film (but I always miss music in movies). That said, it's an interesting venture into 'real' superhero territory that feels like an improved hybridisation of Misfits and Cloverfield with a dark dramatic edge. A keeper, watch it again a few times.

8/10

Moneyball (2011)

Reminiscent of Friday Night Lights, Moneyball builds a story around baseball as opposed to just being a movie about baseball. It is based on the true story of Billy Beane, a washed up professional baseball player who manages a mediocre baseball team and dares to attempt to win the championship. He poaches a young analyst that has devised a calculation to quantify the value of players and then builds a rag-tag team based upon it. While the music is good, it's really sparse and it could've really helped in this film. In the end, this is a movie about opportunities lost and learning to make peace with that reality. Rewatchable (maybe once).


7/10

The Amazing Spiderman (2012)

A second recent reboot of the Spiderman franchise, The Amazing Spiderman aligns itself more readily with the comic books that gave birth to the series. While Spider-Man was pretty successful in its own right, the key improvement here is in the casting. From Andrew Garfield, who is almost the perfect choice for the geeky hero himself to the loveable Emma Stone this trend continues all the way to the smaller parts with Martin Sheen as chivalrous Uncle Ben and Sally Field as nurturing Aunt May. While I would've preferred a less obvious orchestral superhero soundtrack and I thought the robber/Uncle Ben scene had a bit less punch this time around, I can't help but look forward to the sequels and more neat scenes like the one with a scared kid and the re-assuring Spidey mask. Watch it a lot over the years.  

9/10

The Avengers (2012)

The Avengers takes a leaf out of the successful Iron Man series' book and blends realistic action with savvy dialogue. With a huge cast of superheroes, the film manages to give each character their due screen time and character development while binding it all together with a common enemy. Loki, a god from another world, is bent on invading earth and is a surprisingly good fit alongside the Marvel heroes. The most important feature of the Avengers is also preserved well: they all have fantastic strengths but its how the heroes overcome their weaknesses with team work that epitomizes the overall charm of this story. Disappointingly, the music is orchestral and keeps the movie chugging along but is mostly forgettable fare.  That said, the acting is quite impressive and helps to create atmosphere without becoming fake or two dimensional. Worth repeat viewing.

8.5/10

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Superbly unique and hard to take your eyes off, Moonrise Kingdom is a coming-of-age story told through fantasy-tinted lens. It has a Tim Burton feel about it but is lighter and often feels as awkward as our young couple's blossoming romance. The juxtaposition of serious issues such as rejection and bullying against the backdrop of quirky and downright loony adults makes for an enjoyable ride. The music is playful and adventurous and contributes admirably to the film. The only fault of the movie is also its main draw card: this film is a bit precocious and deserves special treatment as you watch it once, twice or even more.

9/10

Prometheus (2012)

Part prequel and part reboot of the Alien series, Prometheus follows the discovery of ruins on earth which suggest that there was intelligent life before humans. A spaceship is then built to investigate the faraway planet of our would-be makers. Essentially a dark action movie, this holds its ground with a respectable cast that includes an unwavering heroine as an homage to Ripley. Expectedly void of music, the film is anchored by the character David, a calculating and almost psychopathic android who makes a fantastic change from the usual robots of the series who generally abide by Asimov's three laws. While I can't help but yearn for the tension of its predecessors, I'm grateful for this commendable descent into scifi all the same. Scarily rewatchable.

8/10

The Hunger Games (2012)

An annual event, The Hunger Games pit one female and one male teenager from each of 12 fictional districts in an all-against-all fight to the death in the wilderness. A descendant of Battle Royale, the film is enriched by its televised reality show component. In this, wealthy spectators are able to influence the result by purchasing instant supply drops for agreeable contestants. A star-crossed romance develops between Katniss and Peeta, the two protagonists chosen from the 12th district. We are then forced to decide whether their relationship is entirely genuine or whether each of them are deceiving the cameras for the tide-turning goodie packs. The soundtrack plays second fiddle to the movie but is present throughout and keeps the film on its toes. Some genuinely gory scenes are surprising and the plot evokes tension while keeping the viewer rooting for the underdogs. This is well-balanced and rewatchable - so long as you aren't expecting anything too serious.

8/10

The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

TCITW starts off as a pedestrian horror flick and then becomes something a little bit unwieldy as a group of teenagers head to a remote cabin during summer break. Using stereotypical plot devices such as the 'hick gas attendant', the audience is lulled into expecting the run of the mill before being given an over-arching story and sense of purpose for the gore onscreen. The twist and comic relief makes this a refreshing take on the genre however it does feel a little too rushed at times and there are a fair few liberties with logic. Nonetheless, the soundtrack and the acting are reasonable thanks to a decent budget. Rewatchable for its pace, this is a lighter throwback to 90's successes such as Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. 

7.5/10