For many reasons, 2012 was an off year in movie watching for me, which may not necessarily be a bad thing. I managed to watch only 62 movies last year, my first year under 100 since 2005 and after having averaged just over 131 movies over the past 5 years. Many things contributed to this, chiefly my attempts to do more exercise and read more books and the insane amount of TV I’ve been watching.
Here’s a look back at the first 50 movies I did manage to watch last year and what recollection I have of them, if any. The films are listed in the order I saw them.
Hatchet II (2010)
I remember thinking this was better than the first Hatchet film, but that isn’t exactly saying anything.
The Hangover Part II (2011)
Nowhere near as funny as the original, but still a worthwhile effort.
Changeling (2008)
Angelina Jolie’s search for her missing child.
Drive Angry (2011)
Nicolas Cage has some bills to pay, and schlock like this is how he plans on paying them.
Moneyball (2011)
One of the most controversial books in the world of baseball hits the silver screen, chronicling the new approach taken by the cash-strapped Oakland A’s to field a successful team.
’92 Skybox Alonzo Mourning Rookie Card (2011)
A short about a screw-up who sells his brother’s Alonzo Mourning rookie card.
Tanner Hall (2009)
A pre-Dragon Tattoo Rooney Mara stars in this school girl drama.
Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
A disappointing sci-fi romp through the old west.
The Rock-afire Explosion (2008)
A documentary looking at the house band of the former Showbiz Pizza.
The Hunger Games (2012)
My first trip to the movie theater this year was for this adaptation of one of the best books I had read the year before.
In Time (2011)
Justin Timberlake continues to impress as an actor.
The Avengers (2012)
Another trip to the theater for the smash adaptation of Marvel’s super-group from Joss Whedon.
Bereavement (2010)
I remember nothing from this film besides Alexandra Daddario in a tight white t-shirt.
Now You Know (2002)
Jeff Anderson had to do something after starring in Clerks, and eventually he came up with this.
Battle: Los Angeles (2011)
Aliens invade Los Angeles, putting a crimp in Aaron Eckhart’s retirement plans.
Final Destination 5 (2011)
The latest film about cheating death and death getting its revenge.
The Mechanic (2011)
The latest Jason Statham mindless action film.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The midnight showing after a night of drinking means I think I’ve seen the whole movie, but can’t be entirely sure.
Contagion (2011)
A superbug wipes out a large swath of the population starting with Gwyneth Paltrow.
Quarantine 2: Terminal (2011)
The sequel to the remake of [REC].
Prometheus (2012)
The alleged prequel to the Alien franchise that I saw on the flight to Belfast.
Snow White And The Huntsman (2012)
Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth star in the re-imagining of the classic tale that I saw on the flight home from Belfast.
Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)
I also saw this quirky comedy about time travel on the flight home from Belfast.
The Caller (2011)
A not-very-good time travel horror film.
Shark Night 3D (2011)
A group of rednecks set some sharks loose to kill the popular kids there on vacation.
Pure Luck (1991)
An early 90s comedy (and not in a good way) that I watched at work.
Straw Dogs (2011)
James Marsden and Kate Bosworth starred in this remake of the Dustin Hoffman revenge film.
The Painted Lady (2012)
An absurd short featuring nothing but a topless Jena Malone.
The Cabin In The Woods (2012)
A re-imagining of the horror trope of the college kids getting killed at a remote cabin.
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
The latest Mission: Impossible sequel adds Jeremy Renner to the cast.
Dark House (2009)
A young girl returns to the site of her childhood trauma and takes the fall for the latest attacks that happen there.
21 Jump Street (2012)
The 80s teen drama series is re-imagined as a comedy.
The Human Centipede II: Full Sequence (2011)
A fan of the original movie goes overboard trying to recreate it in this disturbing sequel.
Silent House (2012)
A young woman battles her demons, which just happen to be her touchy-feely father and her uncle.
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011)
The estranged stoners reunite to save Christmas for Harold’s family.
The Innkeepers (2012)
An inn that is about to shut down is haunted.
Brothers (2009)
A man returns from Iraq to find that his ne’er-do-well brother has taken his place with his wife and children.
Hostel: Part III (2011)
A bachelor party goes horribly awry when the groom-to-be ends up at a killing club.
Sexting (2011)
Carly Pope helps us examine dating in a world where text messaging is the main form of communication.
The Ides Of March (2011)
George Clooney runs for President and disappoints Ryan Gosling terribly.
You Don’t Know Bo (2012)
The excellent ESPN 30 for 30 documentary about Bo Jackson.
The Descendents (2011)
George Clooney finds out his dying wife was cheating on him.
Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
Weird things happen to the family with a video camera in the late 80s.
4.3.2.1 (2010)
British hijinks ensue thanks to the pen of the guy who played Mickey in Doctor Who.
Horrible Bosses (2011)
If your job sucks, the obvious way to change your lot in life is to plan to kill your boss.
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
The origin of Spider-Man is retold nearly a decade after the previous version, but this time features the Lizard.
The Descent: Part 2 (2009)
The one girl who made it out alive last time is sent back in to the caves to explain to the local police what happened to her and her friends.
The Thing (2011)
Something bad is happeneing at the South Pole.
Morning Glory (2010)
The same old tale about the cranky newsman who is forced to do morning news and eventually learns that even the goofy stories have a place on the air.
Runaway Jury (2003)
Suffered greatly from my having just read the novel. Might have been a good time otherwise.