Star Wars Vs. Star Trek

It's the age-old battle of the geeks: Luke Skywalker or James T. Kirk? Darth Vader or Khan? Han Solo or Spock? George Lucas or Gene Roddenberry? To put it simply, Star Wars or Star Trek? Which is the greater franchise? It's hard to pick which one is more famous, or which one has the more devoted fans. Both are massively popular all over the world. Both have achieved the status of greatness...and sadly, at some point in time, both have been downright laughable. They always seemed to me to be separate but equal: you could be a fan of one, but not both. That line has blurred in recent years, and the reason is very clear: his name is J.J. Abrams. He is the one common link between the two franchises, having directed the most recent two Trek films and is set to direct the next Wars film.
Let's go strictly by the numbers to start:

Star Trek

Began in: 1966, on television
Number of Movies: 12, in three different franchises
Number of TV Shows: 5 (I don't count the animated series as canon)
Best Movie/TV Show: The 2009 Star Trek reboot, The Next Generation (1987-1994).
Worst Movie/TV Show: The Motion Picture (1979), Enterprise (2001-2005).

Star Wars

Began in: 1977, in movies
Number of Movies: 6 (don't count the animated stuff here either)
Number of TV Shows: Canon? 0. But there is a popular animated TV show, as well as at least three specials that I'm aware of.
Best Movie: The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
Worst Movie: Attack of the Clones (2002).

Clearly when it comes to quantity Trek wins by light-years: not only did it have an eleven-year head start, but it's been pumping out over 700 episodes of television for decades, as well as racking up twice as many movies as the younger Wars series, which has never really taken off on television. It should be noted that Wars very clearly wins the battle at the box office, despite having only half the number of Trek's films. But Trek has dominated the television arena, while Wars has suffered terribly in that medium, where it can't be taken seriously.
But that doesn't interest me so much: quality will beat quantity any day.
The franchises are comparable for their many similarities: they're both space adventures. Wars is set in the past, in a distant galaxy "far, far away," while Trek is set in the future, and involves actual human beings from Earth. Both have aliens. Both have politics woven into the storylines. Both have huge universes that are expanded much further than what's actually shown on screen. Both have spawned novels, video games, toys, and merchandise galore. Both have inspired fan fiction.
However, while Wars began as a spin on the classic Hero's Journey tale, Trek began as a metaphor for the tumultuous times America was living in. Both have since moved beyond those beginnings.
The essential difference for me lies in the way the story is laid out: Wars at its core, is just two trilogies that tell one long story. That story is about a man born from a virgin, prophesied to unite the galaxy, ultimately turning evil, but later seeking redemption through the help of his grown children. The story has a clear beginning, middle, and end. (Although the end will be extended with the addition of a third trilogy, starting in 2015.)
Trek is very different. That franchise is exactly what the title suggests: they're treks through space. Each series and movie is really just a stand-alone adventure on a different planet or with a different creature. Sure, there are overarching storylines and themes in some of the spin-off TV shows. There was even a trilogy of movies (original movies II, III, and IV) that told one long, sprawling story. But for the most part a newcomer could come into the franchise at any point and understand what was happening. This is most evident with the original series from the 60s- the show has never stopped airing reruns; it could almost be said the show was made for re-runs. Anyone could start watching the show at any point in time: there is almost no forward movement with any of the characters, very few returning characters outside of the main six crew members, no recurring themes or overarching storylines. The only thing besides the main characters that unites the show is its formula: the ship is cruising through space when it finds something dangerous; they investigate, putting the ship or at least a large portion of its crew in mortal danger, a red shirt dies, and at the last possible second Kirk figures out how to defeat the Big Bad and destroys it. Then the ship flies away, right as rain. Wars was never that simple at its core, although Trek did eventually move away from that model.
The two epics have even helped each other out: without Trek, there surely would have been no Wars: no audience and no interest. And because Wars was such a big hit at the box office, studio execs decided to resurrect the dead Trek franchise and make a movie. They have existed side-by-side for decades, with the quality going up and down. Every Wars fan laments the prequel trilogy, while even the most die-hard Trek fans have to admit missteps, like with The Final Frontier or the prequel series Enterprise.
It seems that prequels are just a bad idea in general... unless, that is, you hire J.J. Abrams to direct your prequel. But the 2009 reboot movie wasn't truly a prequel; it was a reboot in the most unique sense of the word. While it invented an alternate reality for the characters, it also acknowledges the earlier series as being part of the "original" universe (hence Leonard Nimoy's cameo in the film). It's a brilliant, genius move; one that even Wars probably couldn't pull off.
Readers hoping to hear a conclusion from me will be sadly disappointed. If I had written this article five years ago, I would have said Wars was the superior franchise, hands down. But Abrams not only showed me what Trek could really be, he helped introduce me to the old stuff for the very first time. I'm excited for the future of both franchises. There will undoubtedly be a third Trek reboot film, and we could even hope for another TV series at some point in the future. There is already work beginning on a new Wars trilogy, new spin-off films, and even a live action TV series. There's room for fans to love both these franchises, equally or not.

Popcorn Pick - May 2013

Summer has arrived! Cue the fireworks!
I have been seriously jonesing for some good old-fashioned blockbuster entertainment. (The pickings so far this year have been very slim.) Thus begins another summer of superheroes, sequels, and explosions. I'm in hog heaven. :)

Friday, May 3rd
Iron Man 3

The first movie of the summer is typically a Marvel superhero movie- not sure why, but they've got a monopoly on this week. The first post-Avengers movie (or, as the fans know it as, Phase 2) is a trilogy capper of the metal guy who started it all. Robert Downey, Jr. returns as Tony Stark in a somewhat darker film. I was not a big fan of Iron Man 2, but the trailer looks very promising. I have high hopes for this film, and for where the mega-franchise will go from here.
Also stars returning cast members Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle, and newcomers Guy Pearce and Ben Kingsley as the villains. Shane Black (the writer of Lethal Weapon) takes over directing duties from Jon Favreau.







Friday, May 10th
The Great Gatsby

The book everyone read in high school gets an injection of life, and music, in this visually stunning, 3D (!) adaptation of the legendary novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Leonardo DiCaprio stars in the title role as a mysterious- and moody- millionaire who befriends his neighbor Nick (Tobey Maguire) and tries to win back his long-lost love Daisy (Carey Mulligan, An Education), who is unhappily married to unfaithful Tom. I hated the book when I read it (granted, I hated pretty much everything they forced us to read in high school), but it's telling that Hollywood has never been able to make a successful movie adaptation, despite numerous tries.
Co-stars Joel Edgerton (Warrior) and Isla Fisher. Directed by Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge).






Friday, May 17th
Star Trek Into Darkness

Quite possibly the most highly anticipated film of the year. After a four-year gap, J.J. Abrams returns to the Enterprise with a sequel to the wonderful reboot that gave new life to the final frontier. While plot details are being kept under wraps, we know that Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the gang are dealing with a new villain (Benedict Cumberbatch, TV's Sherlock) that pushes the entire crew to their breaking point.
Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, John Cho, and Simon Pegg all return.









Friday, May 24th
The Hangover: Part III

Moviegoers will have their pick of two sequels this week (the other being Fast & Furious 6). Not being  a fan of that franchise, I'll go with the comedy route, and see the third (and supposedly last) film in the trilogy of drunken misadventures. After the critical failure of Part II, this film differs in plot, with the three guys hitting the road and getting tangled up in Chow's crazy crime life, and trying to rescue a kidnapped Doug. The film may not be as good as the first installment, but it's tough to resist the chemistry between the three stars.
Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis return, as does director Todd Phillips.







Friday, May 31st
Now You See Me

This movie isn't generating a lot of buzz, but it should, because it looks freaking cool. In the mode of The Prestige, a group of four hotshot magicians end up robbing a bank in the middle of their show- and giving away all the money to the audience. A police investigation ensues, but the magicians are one step ahead of everyone else. Sure to have lots of head-scratching plot twists.
Louis Leterrier (The Incredible Hulk) directs an all-star cast including Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine.

Oscar Winners Predictions 2013

My first and most important prediction: Seth MacFarlane will say something offensive. With little to no live television experience, he is an odd choice to host this year's Academy Awards, but when you think about it, he's not a bigger risk than, say, James Franco and Anne Hathaway. The creator of TV's Family Guy will undoubtedly make this a night to remember.
And now on to the main event! Starting with the big awards first, I give my thoughts on who will win and who deserves to win. (Keep in mind that last part is just my humble opinion.)

Best Picture

Amour
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Les Miserables
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

What will win: Argo
What should win: Argo

This is the most interesting Best Picture race in long time. With nine nominees (for the second year in a row), there's a lot of clutter. There are films that don't really belong here, films that would have won in weaker years, and more than a couple that could conceivably take it. Argo was the front-runner back in the fall, then got left behind and forgotten when other films like Lincoln, Silver Linings, and Zero Dark came out. Then the Oscar nominations were announced, and Ben Affleck was snubbed for Best Director. True, Kathryn Bigelow and Tom Hooper were also snubbed (for Zero Dark and Les Miserables, respectively), but the world concentrated on Affleck, and what an outrage it was. Thus, Argo suddenly became a front-runner again. It's hard to fathom that if Affleck had been nominated, it would probably be Lincoln winning the award, that the fact that Argo will win is as much a sympathy vote as it is people opening their eyes to a great film.
Despite everything I just said, I can still see Lincoln winning tomorrow night. It is the traditional Oscar choice, and it would be nice to give Steven Spielberg another Best Picture film (Schindler's List is his only one). And Silver Linings Playbook makes a strong third choice- if this film performs better than expected in the acting categories, it could upset.
Zero Dark Thirty was an early front-runner, but without a Best Director nomination it doesn't stand much of a chance. Amour and Beasts have their fans, but the films are too small and will probably be forgotten come Oscar night. (I see Beasts walking away completely empty-handed.) Life of Pi is a great film and won't be forgotten- in the technical categories. It will submit to the other films for the major awards. And I absolutely loved Django- but it's not really what you'd call the best picture of the year, and the Academy will agree.
Finally, for my opinion: while I enjoyed Lincoln's performances and sense of time and place, the movie itself left me wanting more. I think it would have been a stronger film if they had chosen to do a traditional biopic instead of focusing solely on Abraham Lincoln's final months. Argo, on the other hand, despite being based on a true story, is the most original movie of the year, with a gonzo plot and mixtures of political drama, top-rate suspense, and surprising humor that actually works, it deserves the award for Best Picture.

Best Director

Michael Haneke, Amour
Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Ang Lee, Life of Pi
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook

Who will win: Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Who should win: Ang Lee, Life of Pi

This will be the rare year in which the Best Picture and Director races won't match up. No one really knows what Haneke and Zeitlin are doing here- no one in America has heard of either of them and they have plenty of time to win an Oscar later in their careers. Russell would probably win in a weaker year, but not this year. And Lee's film simply doesn't have the support to win a major award. Spielberg is still considered the greatest living filmmaker, and it's time to honor him again, with what will be his third Best Director award.
Personally, I thought Life of Pi was a stronger and more heartfelt film, and a much more difficult one to pull off. Add to that he made 3-D a must-see format instead of just a fad, like James Cameron's Avatar, and you have to take Lee seriously.

Best Actor

Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables
Joaquin Phoenix, The Master
Denzel Washington, Flight

Who will win: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
Who should win: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln

Every once in a while the Academy gets it right. This year they will. There are few people so world-famous as Abraham Lincoln, so it's a daunting task for any actor, but Day-Lewis actually managed to bring us something we hadn't seen before- or at least, heard. His decision to play Lincoln with a high voice was shocking to most Americans, but once you realized it was historically accurate, it actually strengthened his performance and gave him a commanding grace as the legendary President. He will become the first person to win Best Actor three times.
Cooper would have won in a weaker year, but with Day-Lewis in the running he doesn't stand a chance. I loved Washington as an alcoholic pilot, but the film doesn't have a lot of love. Phoenix is still being labeled as Hollywood's weirdo and still has to win back some fans before he can win an Oscar. And Jackman... well, he's a good singer.

Best Actress

Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Emmanuelle Riva, Amour
Quvenzhane Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Naomi Watts, The Impossible

Who will win: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Who should win: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook

While Riva could take this one (they Academy does love to honor its old folks, and she's the oldest woman ever to be nominated), it will most likely go to Lawrence as a young emotionally devastated widow. Chastain is great as the woman in charge of the hunt for Osama bin Laden, but her character is a little too emotionally withdrawn to be of real consideration here. Watts also broke a lot of hearts, but her film simply doesn't have the support needed. And Wallis? She's 9. Let her grow up, she can win one later.
Personally, I wanted to vote for Chastain, but felt compelled to vote for Lawrence, the best actress of her generation. I stand by my belief that she was miscast in Silver Linings Playbook- she was way too young for the part, and especially to be Bradley Cooper's love interest. She accepted a role she was not right for and made something special of it- and that's why I want to honor her, if not necessarily the film itself.

Best Supporting Actor

Alan Arkin, Argo
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

Who will win: Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Who should win: Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

Very difficult to predict. It seems to be between De Niro and Jones, but even Waltz could upset. My gut tells me they will go with De Niro as he is such a legendary actor and he managed to reveal several aspects of himself and of this character in the film. But Jones played a real person (Rep. Thaddeus Stevens), which is a far more difficult thing to do, and he has a couple of unforgettable moments in Lincoln. Waltz was a fantastic actor in a film filled with fantastic actors- but he won an Oscar for Quentin Tarantino's last film, Inglourious Basterds. To win again for another Tarantino film would feel redundant. Even though Arkin gives a breath of fresh comedic air to Argo, his is pretty much a token nomination. And The Master won't generate any winners among these other heavy hitters.
I'm a fan of De Niro, but my choice is still Waltz, who made you fall in love with him as the scenery-chewing bounty hunter.

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams, The Master
Sally Field, Lincoln
Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Jacki Weaver, Silver Linings Playbook

Who will win: Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables
Who should win: Sally Field, Lincoln

It was decided months ago that Hathaway would win. Despite her limited screen time, she sings "I Dreamed a Dream," which makes people cry, even after the song's been sung 25 years on the stage. I hate musicals and wouldn't bet against Field. She has two Oscars to her name (and at least a couple of Emmys), and as the First Lady, the scenes between the President and his wife were the best in the film. It's not exactly clear why Weaver was nominated- her performance isn't particularly powerful or memorable. She's just a token nomination which allows the film to boast that it's nominated in all four acting categories. Hunt is incredibly bold in The Sessions, but as the film's sole nomination, she will not win. Besides, she already has an Oscar. And I am a self-professed Adams fan, but The Master still won't win anything.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook

What will win: Lincoln
What should win: Argo

Argo and Silver Linings have a lot of support, but with Lincoln nominated here, no one else stands a chance. Like I said earlier, I personally believe Lincoln could have been a better film, so even though I want to vote for it, I feel compelled to vote for Argo, the most original film of the year. (Despite the fact that this is the adapted category.)

Best Original Screenplay

Amour
Django Unchained
Flight
Moonrise Kingdom
Zero Dark Thirty

What will win: Zero Dark Thirty
What should win: Django Unchained

Another difficult category to predict. It could conceivably go to any of the three Best Picture nominees here, but I feel that Zero Dark Thirty has the advantage of being based on a true story, and one that's still fresh in everyone's minds. Quentin Tarantino could conceivably win another writing Oscar for his slavery revenge saga, and he's my personal choice for sheer entertainment power. I liked Flight, but the film dragged in the middle. Fans of Wes Anderson would love to see him win for Moonrise Kingdom, but it's the film's only nomination and doesn't stand a chance. And why the hell is a French film (Amour) nominated for a writing Oscar?

Best Animated Feature

Brave
Frankenweenie
ParaNorman
The Pirates!: Band of Misfits
Wreck-It Ralph

What will win: Wreck-It Ralph
What should win: N/A

This category is between Brave and Wreck-It Ralph. Pixar usually commands this award, but because Brave felt like a B effort from the animation juggernaut, it will instead go to Disney's video-game-themed Ralph. The other films have their fans, but don't have nearly enough support (or box-office grosses) to justify a win.
I haven't seen enough of the nominees to justify my own opinion here.

Best Foreign Language Film

Amour
Kon-Tiki
No
A Royal Affair
War Witch

What will win: Amour
What should win: N/A

As the only Best Picture nominee of the bunch, Amour will easily take the award. None of the other nominees are even really relevant.

Best Documentary Feature

5 Broken Cameras
The Gatekeepers
How to Survive a Plague
The Invisible War
Searching For Sugar Man

What will win: Searching For Sugar Man
What should win: N/A

The Invisible War could take it as it is the most relevant film for America in this day and age (it's about the prevalence of rape and sexual assault on women in the military), but the Academy will go for feel-good instead with Sugar Man, about a forgotten singer given a second chance at fame.

Now on to the technical categories! If you don't care about the lesser Academy Awards, feel free to stop reading now.

Best Original Score

Anna Karenina
Argo
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Skyfall

What will win: Life of Pi
What should win: Lincoln

Difficult to predict. I can count out Argo and Anna Karenina since their scores don't have that much to offer. Skyfall's music is excellent for a dark action/adventure, but it's hard to imagine the score for a Bond film winning here. John Williams' score for Lincoln is my personal favorite (and could win) for his sweeping orchestra, but the mix of Indian and Western styles for Life of Pi (kinda similar to Slumdog Millionaire's score) will take it.

Best Original Song

"Before My Time," Chasing Ice
"Everybody Needs a Best Friend," Ted
"Pi's Lullaby," Life of Pi
"Skyfall," Skyfall
"Suddenly," Les Miserables

What will win: "Skyfall," Skyfall
What should win: "Skyfall," Skyfall

The songs from Chasing Ice and Ted are the eyebrow-raisers here. Neither are particularly good and only serve to shed some light on those films. (Sorry, Seth MacFarlane!) "Suddenly" has a small chance as it's the only original song from the musical extravaganza, but it's not a memorable tune, especially compared with something like "I Dreamed a Dream." "Pi's Lullaby" is beautiful, but it's more a piece of score than a real song. Adele's "Skyfall" will take it simply because it's the best song. Not only does it perfectly represent everything that a Bond movie is, but it works just fine on its own. We've all heard it on the radio!
This will be the first Bond theme song to win an Oscar, although some have been nominated in the past. (How did Paul McCartney's "Live and Let Die" not win?!)

Best Film Editing

Argo
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

What will win: Argo
What should win: Argo

This award typically goes along with the Best Picture winner, so Argo will probably take it, for its mixing of genres and its sometimes unbearable suspense. Think about it: the film's climax is essentially clearing customs. But they made you invested in every second. Zero Dark Thirty could also take it, since it also has a lot of suspense. Or even Life of Pi: 75% of the film is a boy and a tiger in a boat, but the film doesn't feel long or boring.

Best Cinematography

Anna Karenina
Django Unchained
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Skyfall

What will win: Life of Pi
What should win: Life of Pi

Each film here has its virtues- Anna Karenina largely takes place on a stage, so the camerawork has to be creative in order for the film to not feel locked down in one place. Skyfall's Jason Bourne-like camerawork helped to heighten the action, and Django looked just like a classic Western. Lincoln could take it for helping to establish a certain mood, but following on the footsteps of last year when the 3-D film Hugo won it, Life of Pi's visual style helped to tell the story, and used the third dimension to help it instead of hinder it.

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Hitchcock
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Les Miserables

What will win: Les Miserables
What should win: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Turning Anthony Hopkins into Alfred Hitchcock was a bit of movie magic, but everyone knows that makeup was used, so it kind of lessens the effect. My vote is for The Hobbit (noticeably less popular at the Oscars than the Lord of the Rings trilogy) for bringing to life hobbits, dwarves, elves, and wizards alike. Recently though, the Oscars don't go for monsters in this category, so they'll honor the many hairstyles and aging techniques for the characters in the decades-spanning Les Miserables.

Best Costume Design

Anna Karenina
Les Miserables
Lincoln
Mirror Mirror
Snow White and the Huntsman

What will win: Les Miserables
What should win: Snow White and the Huntsman

This award typically goes to the film with the showiest costumes: the bigger, the better. That would go to either Anna Karenina or Les Miserables. Since the latter is a Best Picture nominee, it will probably get it. Lincoln's costumes were grand, not to mention historically accurate, but they were a little too subdued for the Academy's liking. Meanwhile, there's the battle of the Snow White films: While Snow White and the Huntsman is a dark retelling of the fairy tale, Mirror Mirror is a lighter, family-friendly version. Compare the two dresses for the two Evil Queens and it's clear which film deserves the Oscar. Besides, I'm a fantasy fan.

Best Production Design

Anna Karenina
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Les Miserables
Life of Pi
Lincoln

What will win: Lincoln
What should win: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

This category wisely changed its name from Art Direction this year. It's is similar to Costume Design, but unlike that category the Academy likes to honor most realistic-looking sets. While Life of Pi makes great use of its Indian location, the majority of the film takes place on the sea- not much production design needed. Les Miserables and Anna Karenina have big, sweeping, beautiful sets, but it's the incredible detail used in Lincoln to re-create Washington, D.C. in 1865 that will take the Oscar.
And not surprisingly, my vote goes to the fantasy film. The Hobbit brought both new and familiar places from Middle-Earth to life on the screen. I'll remind everyone that they had to create everything from scratch.

Best Visual Effects

The Avengers
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Life of Pi
Prometheus
Snow White and the Huntsman

What will win: Life of Pi
What should win: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

As the only Best Picture nominee here, Life of Pi will win here- and I applaud giving the award to a non-blockbuster. However, as viewers we're very aware that the tiger in the movie is actually a visual effect. All of these movies have beautiful (or haunting) visual effects, and are spectacular to watch, but if I'm going to pick the most realistic looking of the films, I have to go with The Hobbit- the new and improved Gollum, the orcs, the trolls, even the locations. And let's not forget that because of the complexities of having Gandalf and the dwarves together, visual effects are needed just to show the main cast together on screen. My second choice is Prometheus for the creepy crawlies.

Best Sound Editing

Argo
Django Unchained
Life of Pi
Skyfall
Zero Dark Thirty

What will win: Skyfall
What should win: Skyfall

This award usually goes to the more technically-inclined film. While one could make an argument for the Western Django, it should be between Zero Dark Thirty and Skyfall. As the latter has actual action sequences, it should easily take it.

Best Sound Mixing

Argo
Les Miserables
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Skyfall

What will win: Les Miserables
What should win: Skyfall

There has been much talk that all the actors in Les Miserables had to sing live instead of pre-recording. It didn't exactly help the movie, but despite that, this is where you honor the film for doing that. Or, they could go another way and match Sound Editing by giving this award to a very action-oriented film, Skyfall. Otherwise Life of Pi makes sense here- on the ocean, his world is often very quiet- but the movie can't be, lest you lose your audience.

I'm not gonna do the short films this year because, let's face it, no one cares.
So that's it! The Oscars are tomorrow night (Sunday, February 24th) on ABC. Don't miss it!

Best and Worst Movies of the Year 2012

2012 sure was interesting. A fake apocalypse, a real nail-biter of an election, and a whole lot of variety in the multiplex. I was really excited going into the year, and at the end of it, I am not disappointed. This year brought a return to Gotham City, Middle-Earth, even the Men in Black and the movie musical. Familiar characters and places were re-imagined, and original places were discovered. The greatest filmmakers alive showed their true colors, and numerous doors were opened for the future.
Here are the films that made 2012 memorable, for good or for worse.
A reminder that these are limited to the films I saw, and they are by no means exclusive. The found-footage superhero movie Chronicle just barely didn't make the cut- I thought it was a fantastic spin on two tired genres, but the competition was fierce and it got elbowed out. And even though the final Twilight movie came out, it misses out on the worst films list because there seemed to be a lack of hatred for this installment. (Maybe everyone was just glad the franchise is over!) I am also by no means a critic, but as a lover of all genres I tend to think I represent the average moviegoer pretty well.

Best Movies of the Year

10. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Peter Jackson's first part in his Middle-Earth prequel trilogy got mixed reviews and a lot of criticism for its high frame rate (I did not see the film in this version), but honestly, I was not disappointed. Sure, it can't hold a candle to The Lord of the Rings, and sure the film is slow going in the first half hour. (What was the point of the scene with Frodo and old Bilbo? It seemed to exist solely to bring back two familiar actors.) But the film picks up momentum from there, and turns out to be exciting and full of heart, with the best part easily being the tense riddle-game between Bilbo and the creature Gollum. Can't wait for the reveal of Smaug in part 2!

9. The Amazing Spider-Man

This was a horrible idea for a movie- reboot a franchise that's only ten years old. The idea is familiar and it would feel like beating a dead horse. The only way it would possibly work is if the movie were really, really good. Luckily, it was. Finding a humor and heart that was lacking from the first Spider-Man with Tobey Maguire, this version with Andrew Garfield actually discovered some new territory for this universe to explore. Not to mention the film's best move was to feature the wonderful Emma Stone as the new love interest.

8. Cloud Atlas

An unfortunate flop, this will undoubtedly end up being a cult classic. The most ambitious movie of the year (from the Wachowski siblings) followed six different storylines in six different timelines... and became six different genres. A swashbuckling adventure at sea, a tragic love story, a futuristic sci-fi adventure, a post-apocalyptic fantasy, a journalistic caper, and (most surprisingly) a modern-day British comedy all combine to tell one story of souls coming into contact with each other throughout time. The film demands to be watched multiple times to understand all the intricate connections and discover each actor's many roles. If you haven't seen this film, do yourself a favor and rent it. It has something for everyone.

7. 21 Jump Street

It's every adult's worst nightmare- going back to high school. Two undercover cops do just that in this hilarious comedy-action film that showcases a newly buff Jonah Hill and a surprisingly adept Channing Tatum, starring for once in a movie that guys would see. Bonus points for the year's best cameo appearance, from none other than Johnny Depp, who starred in the TV show on which the film is based.

6. Django Unchained

Gonzo director Quentin Tarantino's newest film is pretty similar to Inglourious Basterds- long periods of dialogue followed by intense and bloody action and surprising humor. Sure there are slow parts, but they always pay off in some way. One of the year's best casts includes Jamie Foxx as the stoic title character, the incomparable Christoph Waltz (who won an Oscar for Basterds) once again playing a very talky character, Leonardo DiCaprio playing against type as the slimy villain, and Samuel L. Jackson playing an old geezer slave who is loyal to his master to the very end. Be sure to stay through the closing credits.

5. The Hunger Games

One of the most anticipated films of the year was a very dark adult movie disguised as a kid's film. Based on the immensely popular book, Panem was brought to glorious life by director Gary Ross and the great cast, led by Jennifer Lawrence (one of the best actresses of her generation) and Josh Hutcherson. Intense, heartbreaking, and very satisfying for fans. Can't wait for the sequels.

4. The Cabin in the Woods

Another movie that very few people saw. A horror-comedy in the Scream vein combined the humor and genius of Joss Whedon with every horror cliche you've ever seen in a movie, to create an awesome and unique experience. The plot is simple: five friends go to a cabin in the woods, where they discover weird stuff in the basement and accidentally summon monsters who kill them off one by one. Of course, that's just the first act. Because someone is watching their every move. To reveal any more than that would be unthinkable- the film must be seen, spoiler-free. The only thing that compromises it is that ending. Brilliantly bold or a big cheat? You decide.

3. The Dark Knight Rises

The follow-up to the immensely successful The Dark Knight wasn't nearly as good as its predecessor, but being a Christopher Nolan film, it's still a masterpiece. The third and final Batman film ups the stakes to unbelievable levels and pushes not only our hero, but the entirety of Gotham City, to the very edge, and makes them crawl to get back up. Tom Hardy as Bane gave one of the year's most memorable performances. ("Now Doctor, now is not the time for fear. That comes later.") An immensely satisfying end to the trilogy.

2. The Avengers

A risky experiment done absolutely the right way- six superheroes from four different franchises are brought together to work as a team. This isn't Superfriends. They bicker, they pick fights, and they are not organized. Under the direction of "the master" Joss Whedon, the film is visually stunning, incredibly exciting, and not at all what you'd expect. Everyone has their favorite character (the Hulk is moving up in popularity).
Now, why Avengers over Dark Knight? It was difficult, and I went back and forth about it, but ultimately the former has something the latter doesn't have- a sense of fun.

1. Skyfall

For James Bond's 50th anniversary on the big screen, Sam Mendes and Daniel Craig managed to redefine a character everyone thought we already knew- and showed us a whole new side of him. This movie presents us with a Bond who is broken, someone who can be injured, intimidated, maybe even killed. And still manages to kick ass like no other. Bringing in Javier Bardem as the best villain of the year (how about that rat monologue?), and putting Judi Dench's M front and center (who are we kidding, she was the real Bond girl!) were smart choices that paid off. An ending that brings us back to the series' roots leaves you salivating for the next installment.
This makes the top spot on the list because I absolutely wouldn't change a thing.

Honorable Mention: Argo

Ben Affleck returns to the director's chair for his best film yet- the unbelievably true story of the CIA getting out six refugees from the Iran hostage crisis. Mixing real-world politics, unbearable suspense, and a surprising injection of humor all come out to make a grade-A thriller.


Worst Movies of the Year

5. Les Miserables

That title doesn't describe the people in the movie- it describes the people in the audience.
The Academy needs to understand that a well-made film isn't the same thing as a good movie. This was a very well-made film with beautiful sets and costumes and a believable sense of time and place. It was even a well-acted film, especially from the lead Hugh Jackman. But having virtually every line of the movie sung was a huge mistake that alienates the viewers and actually distances the emotion instead of making it real. The singing was so prevalent that it actually sounded strange when they spoke normal dialogue (which was for about two minutes, all total.) What's more, the film goes on forever. This should have stayed on the stage.

4. Men in Black 3

People will disagree with me on this one, but as a fan of the first film, I was really disappointed by the trilogy capper. What should have been a fun time-travel storyline was just an exercise in tedium and strangeness that not even Will Smith's charisma or Josh Brolin's good performance could save. And Tommy Lee Jones, despite his very small amount of screen time (and the ten years between the second and third films), looks like he doesn't want to be in this film at all. Maybe he shouldn't have been.

3. John Carter

Not only the worst box-office bomb of the year, but one of the worst of all time. This movie did so poorly the CEO of Disney had to resign following its release. It should have been interesting- a Civil War vet is transported to Mars, where he must fight for the Martian people's freedom. But a confusing storyline and kinda lame characters (John's superpower is that he can jump really high) hindered it and kept it from going anywhere. An unsatisfying ending doesn't help either.

2. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

The first film (with Brendan Fraser) shouldn't have worked, but because of the charm of its characters, it did. They decided to press their luck and try again with Dwayne Johnson, and this charmless piece of kiddie crap just doesn't compare. It has plenty of ideas (tiny elephants! giant bees!), but none of them are believable, or really all that interesting.

1. The Bourne Legacy

Why did they even bother making Bourne Without Bourne? For me at least, the biggest disappointment of the year. As a big fan of the original trilogy, and a fan of the up-and-coming star Jeremy Renner (see best movie #2), this should have been exciting and thought-provoking, like the original Matt Damon films. Instead we got a wandering plot, a pointless climax (he gets off his meds... that was the point of the movie?), barely-there cameos from supporting characters from the first three films, and an ending that doesn't actually end, but instead just stops. (I honestly thought the film was going to keep going for another half hour or so, and was shocked when the credits rolled.) This is one legacy not worth leaving.


Bonus Section- 3D Re-Releases
This year saw a slew of older films getting 3D re-releases, as the format continued to grow and take over every movie franchise known to man. Some movies were worth shelling out the cash to see again, even if you had the DVDs at home, others...not so much.

Best: Titanic

James Cameron made Avatar, which was the start of the 3D craze. So when he re-released his other magnum opus, the historical romance Best Picture winner, you know he wasn't just screwing around. It was a real attempt at giving viewers a new experience, seeing a film they've seen countless times in a whole new light. I was too young to see this film when it first came out in 1997, so I was thrilled to see it on the big screen for the first time, and it's never looked more beautiful.

Worst: Beauty and the Beast

Good movie, baaad conversion. Disney's classic tale of love despite appearances would have been a joy to see on the big screen, but the filmmakers forgot one small thing: the film is a traditionally animated hand-drawn piece, not a computer-animated picture like Pixar would later make famous. The effect of flat characters suddenly given the 3D treatment just makes them look lumpy. It worked for The Lion King, but this would have done just fine with a high-definition transfer.

Well, those are my picks. Do you agree or disagree? You probably disagree, but that's okay. There's a lot of films I haven't seen yet. (Wreck-It Ralph looks like one of the most original films of the year, but sadly I missed it in theaters.) I would love to hear your opinions of what made 2012 great.

Popcorn Pick- December 2012

The end of the year always brings a mixed bag of movies: big epic action films, glittery Oscar-friendly fare, the occasional last-minute comedy or Tom Cruise action vehicle. It's one of the biggest times of the year at the multiplex, and that's not only because there's something for everyone, it's also because it often features the best films of the year.
This month has a slow start (I refused to make a Pick for the first weekend as there was nothing good coming out), but it picks up momentum so quickly that it's impossible to make just one Pick per week. Hence my multiple Bonus Picks this month.

Friday, December 7th
none
If you go see Gerard Butler's romantic comedy Playing For Keeps, I will find you and beat you.

Friday, December 14th
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

So the biggest topic surrounding this film is the fact that they decided to turn a 150-page children's novel into a trilogy of epic movies, and that many people- even die-hard fans- are accusing the studio of abusing the story and stretching what they've got for the sake of a few more bucks. I kind of agree with those people, but let's put that aside for now.
Let's instead focus on the fact that we are very soon going to be able to see a live-action movie of one of the most beloved novels ever written, a full 75 years after it was originally published. Let's focus on the fact that the greatest fantasy films ever made are now continuing their story, under their original director. In short, let's talk about how Peter Jackson is returning to Middle-Earth.
A prequel to the Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings films, and yeah, the first of a trilogy, this tale follows naive hobbit Bilbo Baggins as he is sucked into an adventure involving thirteen dwarves (and the wizard Gandalf the Grey) to trek across mountains, forests, and underground caverns to reach the Lonely Mountain and battle the dragon Smaug to reclaim the dwarves' ancient homeland...along with their substantial treasure. The highlight, of course, is the finding of the One Ring in Gollum's cave, and the reappearance of that slimy schizophrenic creature, one of the greatest villains ever written or seen on screen.
I can honestly say I've been waiting for this film since the third grade.
The cast includes Martin Freeman (TV's Sherlock) as Bilbo, and returning cast members Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Andy Serkis as Gollum, and apparently even Ian Holm and Elijah Wood!

Friday, December 21st
This Is 40

Judd Apatow is a hit-or-miss comedy director. His first two films (The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up) were spectacular hits; his next (Funny People) was a spectacular miss. For his next endeavor he returns to the world of Knocked Up for a spin-off involving that pretty coupling of Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, preparing to turn 40 together, and facing the next phase of their lives.
Knocked Up is one of my favorite comedies, so I am hoping for the best from This Is 40.










Friday, December 28th
Django Unchained

What can you expect from a Quentin Tarantino movie? You can expect long scenes of nothing but dialogue. You can expect lots of blood. And you can expect that it will be weird. Beyond that, expect the unexpected.
The master of the mash-up now brings you the (not historically accurate) story of a freed slave who becomes a bounty hunter and goes on a killing spree to search for his kidnapped wife in America during the 1800s. That's about all I know about the movie, and I'm still excited.
Tarantino is a master at odd casting, and he continues that tradition in this film. Jamie Foxx plays the titular character (the D is silent), Christoph Waltz (who won an Oscar for Tarantino's last film, Inglourious Basterds) as his ally, Leonardo DiCaprio as the flamboyant villain, Kerry Washington (TV's Scandal) as Django's wife, and Samuel L. Jackson as some old dude.





Bonus Picks
This month featured more than just three good movies. A sampling of some more films worth seeing:

Jack Reacher (12/21)- Tom Cruise returns in this adaptation of the book series as a vicious vigilante searching for justice on the streets. Not as profound as the latest Batman movies, but still significant in this post-9/11 world.

The Guilt Trip (12/21)- A traveling salesman reluctantly invites his lonely mother to go on a cross-country road trip with him. Bonding ultimately ensues. Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand play the mother-son duo, which begs the question: is there anyone in the world who is both a Seth Rogen fan and a Barbra Streisand fan?

Monsters, Inc. 3D (12/21)- The Oscar-winning 2001 Pixar animated film returns to theaters (following the success of The Lion King 3D, Beauty and the Beast 3D, and Pixar's own Finding Nemo 3D). Monsters live in an alternate world where they sneak into human children's closets to scare them and collect their screams for power- but their world gets turned upside down when a young girl sneaks over through one of their doorways. John Goodman and Billy Crystal voice the main duo, a fantastic pairing if ever there was one.
Released in anticipation of next year's prequel Monsters University. (Yep, that's real.)

Parental Guidance (12/28)- Billy Crystal again! In this movie he plays a grandpa who visits his grown daughter and grandchildren, and attempts to decipher the differences between his own parental style and his daughter's. Good old-fashioned family fun.

Well, that's it for this month! My next post will be the Best and Worst Films of the Year, always a favorite.

Popcorn Pick- November 2012

Just in time for turkey day, some delectable movies are coming to multiplexes. This is gonna be gooooood.

Friday, November 2nd
Wreck-It Ralph

An ingenious idea from the guys at Disney, this computer-animated film takes us inside the world of old-school arcade games and gives each character his own personality. Ralph, a villain from an '80s game, decides to go against his programming and become a hero in another game. The fun is all the cameos from real-life video game characters, like Pac-Man, Sonic, Bowser, etc. and in the fictional games' similarity to real-life ones. John C. Reilly voices the titular character, and is joined by Sarah Silverman and Jane Lynch.










Friday, November 9th
Skyfall

The third film in the James Bond reboot franchise (and the 23rd film overall) is said to be one of the best in the series, which turns 50 this year. (This is by far the longest-running movie franchise in history.) Daniel Craig returns as Agent 007 to face off against a cyberterrorist played with extra menace-y menace by Javier Bardem, who has a past connection to Bond's boss M. An added treat? A new Q, played by a young chap Ben Whishaw (Cloud Atlas). Directed by Oscar winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty).
All hail 007!









Friday, November 16th
Lincoln

This long-awaited historical drama is not actually a biopic of Abraham Lincoln's life; rather, it only follows his final four months, particularly the passing of the 13th Amendment, which outlawed slavery. Only Steven Spielberg could direct a movie this important, and direct it he does. And Daniel Day-Lewis (a British guy, ironically) as the American hero is said to be the most realistic portrayal ever seen on film. The trailer makes the film look tame, but it's getting very good reviews, so it shouldn't be a disappointment to any history buff. The cast also includes Sally Field (as his wife), Tommy Lee Jones, David Strathairn, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
One eyebrow-raiser: Day-Lewis chooses to give Lincoln a high voice, while the collective American subconscious always imagines him with a very deep, gruff voice. According to research, Day-Lewis' choice is accurate.
Not to be confused with Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.




Friday, November 23rd
Rise of the Guardians

Based on a series of children's books, this animated film follows legendary beings like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and Jack Frost as they team together to stop a Boogeyman-like evil guy. In the tradition of Shrek, this combines clever humor with exciting action, all in beautiful animation. Should be a treat for young kids.











Friday, November 30th
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 2

For the record, the only reason this movie appears here is because nothing good opens this week. And if I fail to mention it at all, I will appear stubborn and/or ignorant.
In the fifth and (hopefully) final film in the franchise, Bella is now a vampire, and raising a vampire child. The vampire lords or whatever hear about it and decide to kill her and the parents. This causes vampires from all over the world to come to Bella and Edward's aid to fight against the bad vampires. Yes, there's good vampires and bad vampires, try to keep up. Part 1 angered a lot of people, fans included, with its antifeminist message and stupid story. Let's hope Part 2 can do better.
I doubt it, though.
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner all return.

Popcorn Pick- October 2012

October has arrived, and with it comes better movies than last month brought. (Alas, not a lot of horror movies; only one appears on this list.) Oscar season has apparently also started, but in my mind it's just the fall season, and that simply means good movies, award-worthy or not.

Friday, October 5th
Taken 2

I never saw the first movie myself, but it was a big hit, and people loved it, so this one will be an even bigger hit. Liam Neeson returns as a father and husband who gets really pissed off when you kidnap members of his family. In the first movie, his daughter was taken. In the sequel, it's his wife. Expect more blood and more of Neeson being an action star. (Still don't see it.) Also stars Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen.











Friday, October 12th
Argo

Ben Affleck has turned a lot of heads with his newest movie, both a directorial piece and a chance to flex his leading-man chops. Based on a true story, this is about a CIA agent who travels to Iran during the hostage crisis to rescue six Americans who are in hiding. His cover is that he's making a B-level sci-fi movie. Filled with suspense, thrills, and humor, this is sure to be one of the best movies of the year. Affleck the actor may have failed us a few times (remember Daredevil?), but as a director he never has (remember The Town?). This is churning up some major Oscar buzz, so be sure to see this one early. Co-stars Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine), and John Goodman.







Friday, October 19th
Paranormal Activity 4

I think I've picked every movie in this horror franchise for Popcorn Pick. (I can't be sure, though. When did I start writing these?) When Hollywood gets a hit, they make a ton of sequels, and that rule is doubly true for horror films. This installment continues the tradition of telling the story purely through amateur video recordings, this time using Skype on a laptop. (Wouldn't that get old, carrying it around all the time?) A young girl is terrorized by a demon after the boy across the street comes to stay with her family. Screams and scary stuff ensue. Mythology deepens.









Friday, October 26th
Cloud Atlas

How can one describe Cloud Atlas? I'm not sure; the trailer is probably your best bet. That, or reading the book it's based on. From the Wachowski siblings (can't call them the Wachowski brothers anymore as Larry is now Lana), directors of the Matrix trilogy, comes a new kind of epic mind-bender. This tells several different stories, spanning several different time periods and even genres. There's a Victorian-era romance, a modern-day crime story, a swashbuckling adventure at sea, and a futuristic sci-fi action tale. Actors play several different parts to show the idea of interconnectivity. It may end up being a mess, but here's hoping that it turns out to be one of the most original movies of the year. Stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, and many others.