Cinema Won's Top Ten Best Films of 2012

    Happy New Year! It is officially 2013 and that means it's time to say what the best films of 2012 were. Like in my worst list, I haven't seen every film released in 2012. Argo, Cloud Atlas and The Hobbit I was unable to see in time for this list, though they could have definitely been on here if I had. And also like the worst list, these are my personal picks. If you don't agree, then that's your opinion. Now, before we get to the top ten, let's look at some that just missed the list.

Honorable Mentions:

Sleepwalk With Me, Moonrise Kingdom, Casa di mi Padre, 21 Jump Street, The Raid: Redemption

 

Number Ten

 

    The Amazing Spider-Man isn't as good as the Sam Raimi's Spider-Mans. Well, except for that one. But it's still an amazing movie in it's own right. Easily causing one of the bigger splits in consensus in a while, I thought that ASM was just plain fun. Yes, we can whine all we want about the fact that it changes his origin, but The Amazing Spider-Man gave us awesome action, likable characters backed by great performances and the best portrayal of Peter Parker yet. Garfield hit it out of the park, and I can't wait to watch Spider-Man kick some more ass.

Number Nine

 

 

    Safety Not Guaranteed is a genuine movie. A movie based on a newspaper ad, SNG could have, and probably shouldn't have been good. However, it so earnestly tells it's story of a newspaper intern and the possibly crazy "time traveller" she begins to grow fond of. The film is at times downright hilarious, and when it's isn't, it's downright touching. Plus, props have to be given to probably one of the coolest ending of the year. You may not have even heard of Safety Not Guaranteed, but you really should have seen it.

 

 

 

Number Eight

 

 

    While everyone might have flocked to theaters in October to see Liam Nesson in Taken 2, you only needed to look to January to find one of Nesson's best films. It may be completely shocking that one of the year's best films came out in Januray, but it happened. The Grey was an at times brilliant film about the struggle to survive, the will to live and the fight against man and beast. I was glued to the screen the entire time, right up until the fantastic ending. The Grey was 2012's first truly great films, and in January, that's a blessing.

 

 

 

Number Seven

 

 

    There's usually an animated movie somewhere on everyone's top ten list and Wreck-It Ralph definitely deserves it's place. Disney has finally manage to make a better Pixar movie than Pixar. The funniest movie I saw this year, Wreck-It Ralph thankfully wasn't just about the high-profile video game cameos the trailers focused on. It created it's own great characters, telling a classic story of being who you are and doing in a way that was honestly fresh and interesting. Plus, it did it with video game characters. What's not to love?

 

 

 

Number Six

    Bond was back with a vengeance in 2012. Casino Royale was great, but more Bourne than Bond and Quantum of Solace was a very good, but not great entry in the series. But with Skyfall, the gadgets, the cars, the great crazy villains and the classic side characters were all back. Perfectly shot by director Sam Mendes, the film had some of the best action sequences of the year and a great story to boot. The best Daniel Craig Bond and overall one of the best Bond film's period, Skyfall was just plain awesome.

Number Five

 

 

    Again, this was one I couldn't review in time for the lists, but let me tell you. Looper is one of the best sci-fi film in the last decade. I love time travel stories and Looper tells a great one. Sure, if you think about it hard it makes no sense, but what time travel story is perfect (Back to the Future)? I was completely glued to the screen, watching the utterly thrilling tale of sacrifice, loss, family and hunting down the future version of you. The final scene of the film is one that will stick with you long after the movie ends. That's what it means to be on the top ten best list.

 

 

 

Number Four

 

    Anytime Tarantino releases a film, strong odds are that it will end up on a top ten list somewhere. And Django Unchained is no different. Taking an unflinchingly harsh look at slavery, Django Unchained was just as good at killing white people was it was with it's long talking scenes. Sharply written by Tarantino, the beautifully shot film is never dull, even if it is a bit long. Not that you'll really mind. Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio all deserve the nominations they will soon be getting and the film as a whole deserves all the praise. Released just last week, 2012 was able to sneak in one more great film before the new year.

Number Three

 

 

    The Cabin in the Woods is easily the best horror movie is ages. Gamely and excellently harpooning the torture porn and slasher genres, Cabin in the Woods was as completely scary as it was completely hilarious. It's hard to say much about it with completely ruining it, as it is essentially Spoilers: The Movie, however, that only means people should see Cabin in the Woods even more. It sat on a shelves for a few years, so again 2012 was breaking all the rules about good and bad movies but it didn't matter. Thank god Cabin in the Woods got released because I loved every seconds of this movie.

 

 

 

Number Two

 

 

    I honestly didn't expect that much from ParaNorman. The trailers weren't that great and I hadn't heard anything really about it. However, I saw it one day on a whim and then saw in again in the theater a few days later. A simple, quiet film, there aren't any big explosions in ParaNorman, just simple, immensely likable characters and a classic and well-done story. I honestly liked the characters in ParaNorman more than I liked any other characters this year. The animation was beautiful and the film was actually scary. Sure, the kiddies may not have liked it, with all the nightmares it probably gave them, but I'm a big boy. I wasn't scared. I was in love with ParaNorman.

 

 

 

The Best Film of 2012 is...

 

 

 







    Honestly, what else could you possibly think it could be? After four years, five films and millions of dollars, we actually got an Avengers movie and it was amazing. I never thought I could describe a movie as awe-inspiring, but here ya go. Seeing Iron Man, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye and Nick Fury all fighting Loki and an army of aliens in New York City together in one film was the single coolest thing I have ever seen in a movie theater ever. The superhero genre has forever changed. Studios can makes as many Dark Knight Rises as they want to, but The Avengers is the movie to beat. Marvel outdid themselves, and have a very tough act to follow. The future is now and The Avengers are taking us to it.