This was an incredible year for movies! One of the best years in my lifetime. As I was putting together my Top 10 list of favorite films of 2012, it easily turned into 15. There were just some films I didn't want to leave off the list. So this is my Top 15 Favorite Films of 2012, and what I consider to be the best. Of course everyone has their own opinion on things so feel free to share your favorite movies of the year!
If you haven't seen any of these movies yet, you should definitely take the time to watch them, because all of these were really amazing films and worth watching!
1. The Avengers
How can this one not be at the top of my list?! It was incredible! And the greatest and most epic superhero movie to date. It's the superhero film by which all other superhero films will be judged. It set the new standard, and it seems like Marvel will just keep raising the bar. Watching this was the most fun I had at the movies all year! I have a feeling the second phase of Marvel's master plan is going to be even more glorious! Joss Whedon did an amazing job bringing fans the badass movie we were all hoping for, and I can't wait to see what he does with the sequel!
2. The Cabin in the Woods
There was a time when I thought this movie would never see the light of day. It sat around for so long before it was released. Thankfully it was released, and it was one of the best horror films that's ever been made, and it became an instant classic! It took everything that we love about horror movies and turned it on its head, taking a concept that we've seen a hundred times before but with a completely fresh and original take. This was simply a brilliant horror movie.
3. Looper
I'm a huge fan or director Rian Johnson, this guy is going to be a force to be reckoned with. He's just such an incredible storyteller, and I love that the stories he tells are completely original. His films just get better and better, and Looper was super cool, the coolest movie of the year, and I'm excited for what Johnson ends up doing next!
4. End of Watch
I love a good cop drama, and David Ayer's End of Watch was one of the best I have seen. The intensely badass movie had a solid mix of action, drama, and comedy. It had a great story and script and all the actors gave amazing performances. It's also the only film I watched in theaters more than 3 times this year trying to get other people to see it.
5. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
I'm a little shocked by how many people didn't like this movie! I absolutely loved it! It was such an incredibly well made movie, and it was so cool to go back to Middle Earth and see the story that led up to The Lord of the Rings. This was my favorite book when I was growing up, and I love the direction that Peter Jackson is taking it. I can't wait to see the rest of the trilogy. I've been waiting for this story to get a big screen adaptation for as long as I can remember. Now it's here, and Jackson has done an awesome job so far!
6. The Dark Knight Rises
This was a wonderful closing film to an awesome trilogy. It left fans wanting more, and unfortunately we aren't going to get it. Regardless of all of the issues that have been pointed out in the movie, I loved it. Bane was such a brutal villain, Catwoman was awesomely sexy, and it was great to see Batman once again save Gotham City with the help of John Blake.
7. Lawless
I think this might be one of the most underrated movies of the year. This was 2012's most badass movie! Don't let Shia LaBeouf stop you from seeing this movie! He was the one that helped push it to get made, and he easily gives the best performance of his career in it. But it was Tom Hardy who stole the show, he gave such an awesome performance. I don't see how anyone can see this movie and not like it.
8. The Raid
This is definitely the most badass action film that I've seen this year, or ever for that matter! I've seen a ton of action films in my lifetime but nothing that has really blown me away like this one. Whenever I feel the need to get my action film fix, this is the movie I've been popping in my blu-ray player. I can't wait for the sequel!
9. Skyfall
I can't imagine a world without anymore James Bond movies, so thankfully Skyfall actually got made! When MGM was going through their bankruptcy thing I wasn't sure when we would see another Bond film, but they figured it out and Sam Mendes ended up giving us a fantastic, classic 007 movie. In the whole scheme of things this was a pretty small scale Bond film, because he wasn't trying to save the world, he was trying to save a friend. It still really packed a powerful punch!
10. Silver Linings Playbook
This was one of those films that I didn't rush out to see, because I wasn't really overly excited about it. I saw it when I had a little extra time, and holy crap it was such a great movie! I was shocked by how good the movie was, and by how much I liked it. It was an incredible story that I was able to relate to in a way, and the performances from Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence were simply incredible. I loved how this movie made me feel while I was watching it.
11. Seven Psychopaths
If you haven't seen this movie yet, you need to do it right now! This movie was fantastically hilarious! You can't go wrong with this one, it delivers some incredibly fun entertainment. Collin Ferrell, Sam Rockwall, Christopher Walken and Woody Harrelson were amazing, and just watching them play these great characters in this extremely strange film is so worth it. I absolutely loved the story, it was just so odd and different, yet at the same time so damn cool!
12. The Perks of Being Wallflower
I really had no idea whatI was getting myself into when I watched this movie. The only reason I saw it was because I had seen everything else that was out in theaters at the time. It ended up being one of my favorite movies of the year! I absolutely loved this film, it was a fantastic coming of age film that had that classic John Hughes feel to it. This was such an incredible and well made film with a wonderful story, characters, and great acting. It a must watch for anyone that loves movies.
13. Django Unchained
Tarantino did it again. He managed to make yet another incredibly entertaining and shocking film. I've always enjoyed the films that Tarantino has made, and they are getting better and more crazy. This western/southern of his was very brutal, but it was also very humorous, and incredibly entertaining. It's one of the most insane revenge westerns I think I've ever seen. Tarantino is the only guy that I think can get away with this stuff.
14. Lincoln
Not only was this another incredible film by Steve Spielberg, but Daniel Day Lewis gave the best performance of the year! There's always usually one performance a year that completely blows me away, and this was that performance. If he doesn't win the Oscar for Best Actor then there's something seriously wrong with the system, because no other performance comes even close.
15. ParaNorman
As far as animated films go ParaNorman ended up being my favorite of the year. It was just such an incredibly entertaining film that had everything I love about the movies. I especially love the horror theme of the story. It's one of those films that I was able to relate to, and it brought back some fun childhood memories.
I still haven't seen Zero Dark Thirty yet, and I'm not sure if I'll get that chance before the year is out, which is why it's not on the list in case you were wondering.