The year 2012 was one of the best years for movies. A lot of great movies have come out that I still need to watch. These picks are just my opinion on the best movies of the year. These are the movies I have seen that left the biggest impression on me and that I loved the most.  If you disagree with me don't start telling me how French films and arthouse films are so superior than any of my picks. Just let me know if you agree or disagree and we'll talk about it.  







10. End of Watch: 

 End of Watch was one of the most surprising movies of the year for me. To me it was another found footage gimmick that looked a little cheesy just by judging the trailer. When the movie started I was at the edge of my seat. At one point I was sweating because it was so tense. It's a cop drama that uses the "found footage" style like a COPS episode, a really great COPS episode, but it switches to regular old filming which actually worked. It's one of those films were you feel you are there with these two guys. The two protaginists have one of the best chemistry on screen that I've seen this year. Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena are so perfect for this role there back and forth banter and every diolouge interaction these guys have is done so well and its all in thanks to the Director and writer for making this cop drama work.



9. Cabin In The Woods/ The Avengers:



 These two Joss Whedon related movies were so great I had to fit them on my list. These two are also Chris Hemsworth only good performances this year. Yes I did love the Avengers but I wasn't anticapating it, It wasnt a dream come true like everyone else had said and It didn't affect me like every other person it affected is what I'm trying to say. Nonetheless I really loved it.



  Cabin In The Woods another huge surprise for me. Five stereotypical kids take a trip into the woods and get killed but with the most unsuspected plot on top of it and self aware of its genre. One of the most creative and unique movies I have seen in a long time. The third act in this movie is by far the best outcome I have seen in a horror movie. From the start it has great diologue and good likeable characters. This celebrates and kind of deconstructs horror movies of all its cliches and makes them outragously hilarious. It's an Ode to all horror movie fans that will be appreciated for years. Unpredictable, dark humor, and just one of the best movies this year.



  Marvel's The Avengers is one the best comic book movie ever made. The best for most but not for me. What more can be said about The Avengers that hasn't been said already. It's the most enrtertaining movie of the year and one of the best movies in cinema history. It's just a fun movie for everybody to enjoy. The personalities between theses characters are so real and so different from each other. The story is simple but what more do you wan't with this fun movie. The Hulk steals the scenes when he's on screen every time. The CGI in this movie is top notch and I hate CGI for the most part but this movie pulls it off. It's all thanks to Joss Whedon's great directing why this movie is probably this generation's Star Wars for a lot of people.



8. Safety Not Guaranteed: 

  A small indie movie but it succeeds over a lot of big budget hollywood movies. It's kind of a rom-com executed greatly. Aubrey Plaza(Darius) is an actress that is just naturaly funny to me and that goes the same for Mark Duplass. It's a very touching funny, and unexpectedly hearfelt story. Three Seattle magazine employess go investigate an ad from an awkwardly paranoid man named Kenneth (Mark Duplass) who you don't know if he's mentally unstable or if he really did invent a time travel machine. In the process Darius connects for the first time with someone and that's Kenneth and falls for him. Not only do they have this beautiful charachter development but so did the other two protaginists. This trip In the end changes everyone's life. I connected with these people in an emotional level. This is an astounding job for Colin Trevorrow's first movie as a Director.



7. Moonrise Kingdom:

  Another little amazing indie movie, by Wes Anderson. I had not seen a Wes Anderson movie before so I didn't know what to expect from him. I got one of the most Romantic movies I've seen in a long time. It features a big star cast yet it is mainly centered on the children who just steal the movie for me. A Khaki scout trooper and a young girl fall in love and run away together while the khaki troopers, the girls parents, and the sheriff(Bruce Willis) chase after them all during a storms approach. The diologue seems so realistic as if you were just watching these people talk in real life. Its also one of the funniest movies this year. It has this quirky, charming, humor. The characters are so silly and work so well in this world Wes Anderson has created. Everything is just beautifully shot, the camera work included great visuals evrytime. I loved every detail about this movie.



6. Argo: 

  When you make a movie based on a real event which you know the finale to it and still make it suspensful and have the viewer at the edge of the seat, you have made a great film. Ben Affleck does it again, for the third time, a fantastic thriller. This is not an action movie just great storytelling. It sounds totally ridiculas on paper about a group of CIA agents who pose as filmakers and look for locations to shoot in Iran to rescue americans. Everyone involved in this movie is so perfect with their roles. To say the acting is great is a bit of an understatement. Alan Arkin and John Goodman steal every scene they are in, especially Alan Arkin. It was done so well both behind and in front of the camers. It benefited me that I did not know this story at all. 



5. The Dark Knight Rises:

  Flawed, overrated, not as good as its predecesor. I have heard it all. For the most part I agree. Call me a fanboy, call me anything you wan't I really loved this movie. Sorry I'm not going to jump the "I hate it" bandwagon. Does it have its pacing problem, filled with plot holes? Yes, but its still a good movie and I could care less of its flaws. Christopher Nolan's final installment in the Batman trilogy ends in the most satisfying way any batman fan could ask for. Micheal Caine and Christian Bale give they're best performance yet in the series. Anne Hathaway delivers the best and sexiest catwoman performance on screen, in my opinion. Tom Hardy conquers the villianes role of Bane with his terrifying physical presence. It's another good story telling by David S. Goyer and the Nolan brothers but not the best of the series in comparison to the others. Why do I prefer this than the Avengers? I didn't grow up with the Avengers. To me its the best fims based on this character. It was a dream come true to see my favorite fictional character on screen again. The comic book characer was an important part in my child hood and that's why its so near and dear to my heart. 



4. Looper:

  Rian Johnson wrote and Directed Looper, one of the most original sci/fi movies of the year and in a long time. Joseph Gordan Levitt, allong with great make-up prosthetics, escapes himself in this role as a younger Bruce Willis. To write and Direct a movie that is an original Sci/fi film really is admirable. So hats off to you Mr. Johnson. Like Moonrise Kingdom this isn't just another pay check for Bruce Willis. The best of his acting talent is used in this movie. This film has one of the best child actors I have ever seen. His line delivery is so well said and never overplays it. It is so visually stylistic in every aspect. Every character just fitts so well in this world. The pacing got slow but it never felt dull. I loved the direction it took from the first act which was fast paced metropolitan setting with action to the second act which took a slow turn in an isolated farm and seeing everything come together for a great finale.



3. Seven Psychopaths: 

  One of the best movies I've ever seen. This has a lot of Tarantino influence in terms of how everyone just talks about random subjects that are delivered so well. The diologue is phenominal is what I'm saying. I had seen In Bruges and I instantly loved the dark humor and the likeable characters. This was no different. Christopher Walken gives his best performance in years but Sam Rockwell steals the entire movie. His performance might even be better than Moon and I loved him in Moon. His monolouge in the camp fire was the best part of the movie. This is hands down the best screenplay of the year for me. Martin McDonagh is one of the best new Writer/Directos working today. This is one of the funniest movies I've seen.



2. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower: 

  No, its not on #2 just because of Emma Watson, trust me. This great film hit me in all my emotional spots at once several times. Just thinking about it gets me all teary. Probably because I was also an outcast in High School and I never met any real friends at that time....nevermind about me. Stephen Chbosky wrote the book and Directed this movie as well and for a first time director he does a superb job. I have never cared and connected so much as I did with these characters. Ezra miller plays such a happy person in the movie that when he breaks down I broke down with him. Logan Lerman gives his best performance yet. I connected with him the most as he went through those tough times. I hated the bad things that happend to him as if I was going through it as well. Through out this movie I thought "Man, I would have loved to hang out with these people in High School".  This movie just validates and respects what its like to be a teenager and for parents to understand the youth a little better. Again, this was an emotional ride that I will keep taking when its out in dvd/Blu-ray.



1. Django Unchained: 

  My favorite movie of this year yet again is a Quentin Tarantino movie. How can I not put a Tarantino movie on my list. A combination of Kill Bill and Inglourious Basterds two of my most beloved Tarantino movies. It's one of the best events of the year. Peoplesay they had the most fun during Avengers. I had the most fun in Django Unchained. Why do I have this in my number one? This is my type of movie. Over the top bloody action, the best diologue a movie can have, in my opinion. The revenge/love story that drives this amazing movie is just breathtaking. The entire KKK mask scene alone was the funniest moment in any movie this year.  Three people stand out who are Oscar worthy deserve at least a nomination. Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson and Leonardo Dicaprio. Jackson needs a nomination I cannot stress that enough. He has the best performance since he played Jules in Pulp fiction. The music! My God the music was so well put in every scene. I could talk abou it forever. This is just pure entertainment along with incredible acting on everyones part. It sets a love story on this country's darkest and shameful time and gives us this epic western adventure. 





Honorable mentions: 

1. Skyfall

  I haven't seen any other james Bond movie other than Casino Royal and Quantum of Solace. So yes Skyfall was the best Bond movie I have seen and Daniel Craig is amazing as James Bond I really loved this movie. 



2. The Hobbit

  I loved this movie for what it was. It wasnt in the same scale as The Lord Of The Rings but it was up there. I don't care how many frames this movie had it was a great piece of work.



3. The Raid Redemption

The best action movie of the year for me. It's a non stop action movie that does not stop. Just a great entertaining movie.



4.Lincoln

One of the best movies of the year no doubt. Daniel Day Lewis should win best actor he escapes himself again with this role. I knew what it was when I wen't in. It was a great experiance watching this film for the historical purposes as well as the acting and Directing. I just don't know if I'll watch it as much as the rest. 



5. Your Sister's Sister

Another small indie with Mark Duplass. Again I thought the people and the diologue were treated so realistically that it really left an impression on me. 



Movies I haven't seen due to limited releases:

1. Silver Linnings Playbook

2. The Master

3. Zero Dark Thirty

4. The Impossible

5. Amour