The Help

The Help

The 2011 film was, in my views, the best film of 2011. The film was based off of the book, and was about the hardships faced by the blacks in the 60's in Alabama. It had an amazing cast and got two Oscar nominations for Viola Davis(Best Actress) and Octavia Spencer(Best Supporting Actress).The film had amazing success, getting an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. I felt this film was very good. The writing was very good, as was acting and directing. 9/10.

Director:Tate Taylor

Music: Thomas Newman

Cast: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain, Allison Janney, Anna Camp, Sissy Spacek, Mike Vogel and Cicely Tyson

Release Date: 2011
Rating: PG-13 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

The end of the amazing magical film series was in 2011, striking 3rd in box office records of all time, only to be broken the next year by The Avengers in 2012. The film to me was the best of all of the films. This is one of the first film series based off of a fantasy book series, the series starting in 2001 along side the Lord of the Rings trilogy also starting that same year. Ironically enough the Lord of the Rings series is the only other film series to do better than this one in the category of "based off of a fantasy book series". The film lasted 10 years, the exact same of amount of time it took to write and publish the books. Also coincidentally the film series started and ended four years after the book series started and ended. This film brought back all of it's previous cast. The film was mostly the Battle of Hogwarts which is not a bad thing seeing as they did a very good job with the big battle. I actually wish they had showed more on the battle. Altogether it was a great film series. In my opinion the rates on the movies go, from best to worst(Deathly Hallows Part 2, Sorcerers Stone, Half Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows Part 1, Chamber of Secrets, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, and finally Prisoner of Azkaban). Good film series! Wonderful writing, acting, directing, and especially music all around! I loved this movie especially! 7/10.

Director: David Yates

Music: Alexandre Desplat

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Matthew Lewis, Tom Felton, Bonnie Wright, James and Oliver Phelps, Evanna Lynch, Maggie Smith, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters, Mark Williams, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Timothy Spall, Kelly Macdonald, Robbie Coltrane, Jason Issacs, Helen McCrory, John Hurt, Helena Bonham Carter, Warwick Davis, Domnhall Gleeson, Clemence Poesy, Devin Murray, Freddie Stroma, Jessie Cave, Ciaran Hinds, Katie Leung, Alfie Enoch, Josh Herdman, Louis Cordice, Miriam Margolyes, Natalia Tena, George Harris, Dave Legeno, with Gary Oldman and Michael Gambon

Release Date: 2011
Rating: PG-13 

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

This film is the last of the amazing award winning trilogy helmed by Peter Jackson. The film is the sequel and finale to the trilogy and is based on the book series by J.J.R. Tolkien. The film brought back all of the cast of the past films. It was nominated and won all 11 awards at the Academy Awards in 2003(including Best Picture and Best Director), one of the only films ever to do so, while also being the only fantasy film to do so, as well as being the second sequel(after The Godafther Part II). The film had a score made by Howard Shore once again, as he has done all Lord of the Rings films, and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and it's song "Into the West" by Annie Lennox winning Best Original Song and Score that year at The Academy Awards as well. Award winning special effects combined with all of the above gives this film a 8/10.

Director: Peter Jackson

Music: Howard Shore
Cast: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Viggo Mortenson, Ian Mckellan,John-Rhys Davies, Orlando Bloom, Bernarnd Hill, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Miranda Otto, Hugo Weaving, Karl Urban, Dvid Wenham, Liv Tyler, Harry Sinclaire, Cate Blanchett, with Ian Holm, Sean Bean and Andy Serkis as Gollum
Release Year: 2003
Rating: PG-13 

X-Men First Class

X-Men First Class

2011 brought 3 superhero movies all owned by MARVEL(Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, and X-Men First Class). In my opinion this film was the best out of the three. The films cast was very good, and the directing was very good, as was writing. What mostly stood out to me was the music, acting and writing. Henry Jackman blew me away with the music! Very good. A+! Now the acting was very good with many new faces and many well known faces, but all around good acting. The script was my favirote of all the X-Men films, and I loved it very much. altogether wonderful film. 8/10.

Direcotr: Matthew Vaughn

Music: Henry Jackman

Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Rose Byrne, Nicholas Hoult, Oliver Platt, Lucas Till, Zoe Kravitz, Jason Flemyng, Alex Gonzalez, with January Jones and Kevin Bacon

Release Year: 2011
Rating: PG-13 

The Amazing Spider Man

  

The Amazing Spider Man

The second premiering MARVEL film of 2012 and the second opening superhero movie of 2012 came out with a bang! The new trilogy now directed by Marc Webb, replacing Sam Raimi,  and starring The Social Network's Andrew Garield(who replaced Tobey Maguire) also had a completely new storyline, one that in my opinion was much better than the original trilogy's storyline. The film had very good special effects and a hilarious script! The new heroic Spider-Man tune by James Horner was amazing, and very different from the old one by Danny Elfman. Altogether it was a very good film. Much better than the old trilogy, in fact. This reboot deserves a 8/10.

Director: Marc Webb

Music: James Horner

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary,  Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field

Release Year: 2012

 Rating: PG-13

The Social Network

 The Social Network

The Social Network is a biopic of the creation of Facebook and the aftermath of the creation. The film had an amazing cast with Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg. The film was very good getting 8 Academy Award nomiations(including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor(Eisenberg)) winning Best Film Editing, Best original Score, and Best Adapted Screenplay as well as winning Best Picture-Drama, Best Director,Best Original Score, and Best Screenplay at the Golden Globes. I loved the music and I was saddened by the amazing story. Amazing Movie: 9/10.

Director: David Fincher

Music:Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella, Josh Pence, Brenda Song and Rooney Mara

Release Year: 2010
Rating: PG-13 

The Avengers

The Avengers

Joss Whedon brings us the 3rd top grossing film of all time and a superhero classic with The Avengers.The film stars superhero stars Robert Downey Jr.(Iron Man), Chris Evans(Captain America) and Chris Hemsworth(Thor). The visual effects earned itself an Oscar nomination. The acting was very good as well as the directing and writing. The music by Alan Silvestri brought itself greatness. The film was one of the three comic book films of 2012. It had an all star cast, and was very good in all reality. Sadly it did not bring the exact amount of greatness as I wanted. 7/10.

Director:Joss Whedon

Music: Alan Silvestri

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johanson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddelston, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Paul Bettany, Gwyneth Paltrow, Alexis Denisof, with Stellan Skarsgard and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury

Release Year: 2012
Rating: PG-13 

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

2012 brought us many films, one of them being the start of the prequel trilogy to The Lord of the Rings Films. The film brought back Lord of the Rings stars Galadriel(Cate Blanchett), Frodo(Elijah Wood), Old Bilbo(Ian Holm), Elrond(Hugo Weaving), Saruman(Christopher Lee), Gollum(Andy Serkis), and Gandalf(Ian Mckellan). The film is the first of three directed by Peter Jackson. THe film now stars Martin Freeman as Bilbo and the Company of 13 dwarves(Thorin, Balin, Dwalin, Gloin, Oin, Kili, Fili, Dori, Nori, Ori, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur). It has amazing special effects, great music and was nominated for 3 acadmy awards. Altogether it was a good film, but not as good as I hoped. I give it a 7/10.

Director: Peter Jackson

Music: Howard Shore

Cast: Martin Freeman, Ian Mckellan, Richard Armitrage, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, William Kircher, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Aidan Turner, Dean O' Gorman, John Callin, Peter Hambelton,Jed Brophy, Mark Hadlow, Adam Brown, Sylvester McCoy with Ian Holm, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Christopher Lee and Andy Serkis as "Gollum"

Release Year: 2012
Rating: PG-13 

Super 8

Super 8

The 2011 sci-fi thriller was what you could call marvelous. No one will ever stop making sci-fi. The world needs sci-fi, so this made an amazing contribution to sci-fi. The J.J. Abrams film was a wonderful film based in the 70's about 6 children who want to make a movie to put in a film festival. The acting was amazing with so many breakout stars, and they made it an amazing film. The story was very intricate and funny thanks to J.J. Abrams. Michael Giachino blew me away with his amazing music which brought the exact right tone for everything. I loved this film so I'm gonna givie it a 8/10.

Director: J.J. Abrams

Music: Michael Giachino

Cast: Joel Courtney, Kyle Chandler,Riley Griffiths, Elle Fanning, Ryan Lee, Gabriel Basso, Ron Eldard, Zach Mills
Release Year: 2011
Rating: PG-13 

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises

The epic end to the 7 year trilogy was an amazing Christopher Nolan film. The cast was amazing with Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Joseph-Gordon Levitt, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cortiland, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine. The film was spectacularly written as most Nolan films usually are. The film was the last in the trilogy following up 8 years off The Dark Knight. If you have not seen the predecessors(Batman Begins, The Dark Knight Rises) it will be hard to understand at times, but either way I highly recomend you see it. The music was quite well done, and the costumes were brilliant! The directing was fabulous and so I give this amazing finale a 8/10.

Director: Christopher Nolan 

Music: Hans Zimmer

Cast: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Joseph-Gordon Levitt, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cortiland, with Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine

Release Year: 2012

Rating: PG-13 

The Hunger Games

 

The Hunger Games

The 2012 film based off of the best selling book series, became an international hit on March 23. The film set itself up to follow the books and so, as we now know, they will be making films for Catching Fire(in 2013), Mockingjay Part 1(in 2014), and Mockingjay Part 2(in 2015). The film made by Gary Ross(Pleasentville, and Seabiscuit) starred an all-star cast of Jennifer Lawrence( X-Men First Class, Winter's Bone), Josh Hutcherson(Zathura, Bridge to Terabithia), Liam Hemsworth(The Last Song) and other amazing cast members such as Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kraviz, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones and Stanley Tucci. The thriller film set in the future most likely, showed an amazing storyline thanks to Suzanne Collins(author of the book series). It was an amazing special effects drama, showing the inhumanity of things at certain times in life. The music was fairly good. Altogether it was a well put together film, and not a waste of anyone's money. I know you are probably getting tired of me saying this, but I give it an 8/10.

Director: Gary Ross

Music: James Newton Howard

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Wes Bentley, Donald Sutherland, with Toby Jones and Stanley Tucci
Release Year: 2012
Rating: PG-13 

Inception

 

Inception

The 2010 film season was a good one bringing horror films(Winter's Bone, Black Swan), biopoics(The King's Speech, The Social Network), but to me one film stood out from the rest. Inception, the sci-fi thriller, brought a new eye to science fiction. It was a Christopher Nolan film starring a wonderful cast: Leonardo Dicaprio(Titanic, The Aviator), Ken Watanabe(Batman Begins), Joseph Gordon Levitt(Looper), Ellen Page(Juno), Marion Cortiland(The Dark Knight Rises), Tom Hardy(This Means War, The Dark Knight Rises) and Cillian Murphy(Batman Begins). The film is based on dreams and the power they hold. Its an amazing film, with a wonderful storyline. Its a very confusing film is you don't pay attention, and if you do it is still hard to understand in ways. The music is quite amazing as Hans Zimmer(composer) and Christopher Nolan(director) collaborate once again. It was nominated for Best Picture in 2010 losing to The King's Speech. Altogether I give it a 8/10.

Directed: Christopher Nolan

Music: Hans Zimmer

Cast: Leonardo Dicaprio, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Marion Cortiland, with Tom Berenger and Michael Caine
Release Year: 2010
Rating: PG-13 

Les Miserables

 

Les Miserables

  The 2012 adaption of the famous stage musical was very good, as it has been said worldwide. The movie about Jean Val Jean, or 24601 as some know him, (Hugh Jackman) 's redemption takes place in the French Revolution. The Golden Globe winning, Oscar nominated film has been appreciated around the world as one of the best films of 2012. I've come to see that it is one of the best. The film had an amazing cast with Hugh Jackman(The Prestige, X-Men) , Russel Crowe(Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind) , Anne Hathaway(The Devil Wears Prada, The Dark Knight Rises), Amanda Seyfried(Mamma Mia, Red Riding Hood), Eddie Redmayne(My Week with Marilyn), Helena Bonham Carter( The Fight Club, The King's Speech) and Sacha Baron Conan(Madagascar, Hugo). The musical has won the Golden Globe for Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway for their roles and has been nominated for 8 Academy Awards. The film did live singing, a risky thing to do in a film, but it worked out splendid! The singing was amazing! The director, Tom Hooper(The King's Speech), skipped out on an Oscar nomination, but deserved it highly. Overall it deserves an 8/10.

Director: Tom Hooper

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Russel Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks, with Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen
Release Year: 2012

Skyfall

Skyfall

The 24th James Bond Film has done amazingly in the box office naming it the top-grossing Bond film. The Marc Webb film brought back Daniel Craig for the 3rd time as 007, while Judi Dench gives us her 7th performance as "M". The acting was phenomenal by Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, And Daniel Craig. Everyone needs Bond, so we are very glad this film could produce that. Directing was fairly good. Music was wonderful, thanks to Thomas Newman, as the academy has noted with his Oscar nomination. The visual effects were very good, and ADELE blew me away with her opening Golden Globe winning, Oscar nominated song,"Skyfall". Overall, I think this was the best of the Daniel Craig Bond trilogy. I give it an 8/10.

Director: Sam Mendes

Music: Thomas Newman

Original Song "Skyfall" sung and written by ADELE

Cast: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomi Harris, Berenice Marlohe, Ben Wishaw, Rory Kinnear, with Albert Finney and Judi Dench as "M"

Release Year: 2012

Rating: PG-13 

The Dark Knight

  The Dark Knight

Well, this is one of the best films of 2008 in my opinion. Even though it wasn't nominated for Best Picture at The Academy Awards that year, it should've been counted along side the nominees. Christopher Nolan delivered us one of his best films of 2008 about the DC comic book character, introducing the sequel to The Dark Knight Trilogy's opener "Batman Begins"(2005). The film brought back notable actors Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman. Heath Ledger stars as the evil antagonist "the Joker", while Maggie Gylenhaal takes over Katie Holmes' previous role as Rachel Dawes,and Aarono Eckhart rounds up the cast as the "white knight" DA Harvey "Two-Face" Dent. Christian Bale gives a notable performance as Bruce Wayne/The Dark Knight. Heath Ledger got his well deserved Best Supporting Actor Award for his amazing work on his part, right before his death. Gary Oldman and Aaron Eckhart show strong leads as the other two main characters in this profamed sequel. Christopher Nolan, as usual, gives us an amazing directing as well as writing job. Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard escelate the difference of this film from the other batman films with his amazing score. Overall this film was very good. So i give it an 8/10.

Director: Christopher Nolan

Music: Hans Zimmer

Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gylenhaal, with Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman
Release Year:2008
Rating: PG-13