As the year is almost at its end, it’s time to look back at the past year, both in blogging and in movies.
At the beginning of the year I had three movie related New Year’s resolutions:
1. Try to see more movies at the cinema
2. Having seen at least 225 movies out of the IMDB top 250
3. Write more articles (instead of mostly reviews)
I’m happy to say that I managed to realise all of them. I saw 33 movies at the cinema, way more than I did the year before and I reached my IMDB goal at the end of November.
Articles
This year I also wrote more articles, like the ones on tips to improve your blog, which were helpful for a lot of people, I wrote about the death of DVD & Bluray, cliche movielines and trying to understand disruptive behaviour at the cinema.
Writing more articles also had its effect looking at the number of visitors and as a blogger it’s always nice to see that. The article I did called “If movies were titled like John Carter” had the most views ever (almost 13.000 views in one month alone) and was one of the most enjoyable pieces I did.
I also started my “The Story Behind…” series where I look at the logos of big movie studios. These are still read every day and Time Entertainment even linked to one of them.
Interviews and guest posts
I also did interviews with directors Kurt Kuenne (Dear Zachary, Shuffle) and Roger Lay, Jr. (Toy Masters). I’m already happy to announce that I have an amazing interview planned for the beginning of next year.
I did some guest posts over at moviesandsongs365 about my musical tastes, Inspired Ground (My Movie Influence) and Ticker Talks Film (his Cabin in the Woods feature).
Blogathons
I am also very thankful for the amazing participation in the Movie Confessions Blogathon with almost 80(!) entries. The various relay races I had going were also a lot of fun to follow and thanks to my readers I was nominated for a Lammy and was runner-up for best blogathon.
Besides starting a couple of blogathons I also joined the My Movie Alphabet and Small Roles… Big Performances blogathons.
The statistics
Above is an overview of allmost all movies I saw in 2012. It’s a total of 311, which is quite a bit less than last year’s 340. Still that’s a total of 32530 minutes or 542 hours or 22,5 days of non stop movie watching. Which comes down to an average of one movie every 1.17 days. Out of those movies there were only 34 movies which were rewatches.
The My Filmviews tens
If you’ve been reading My Filmviews for a longer time, you will know that I don’t give out perfect scores easily. This year there were only 7 movies which I gave that score. They are:
Gandhi (1982)
Sherlock Jr. (1924)
No Mercy (2010)
Seven Pounds (2008)
The Raid (2011)
Intouchables (2011)
Argo (2012)
The worst movies I’ve seen this year
Although I always hope that the movies I choose to see will be great, there are bound to be some disappointments. The movies which I couldn’t enjoy (and have given a score of 3 and lower) are:
Hamburger: The Motion Picture (1986)
Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (2012)
Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)
Madea’s Witness Protection (2012)
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011)
Cosmopolis (2012)
Take This Waltz (2011)
Lockout (2012)
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (2009)
Top 10
So which ten movies were my favorites? I have to say that filling the top 10 this year was quite difficult, because filling it proved to be difficult. There are some 2011 movies in the list, but the reason for it is a simple one: They were not available in the Netherlands yet last year and were released here in 2012. Honorable mentions, movies which I really thought about including, were two comedies: Pitch Perfect and 21 Jump Street. Wasn’t expecting anything from them but they both were very nice surprises.
This movie tells such a compelling story in such a fascinating way that when the credits rolled I wished it would have continued for another hour. I wanted to know more about the main character and as a viewer you kind of understand the confusing situation she’s currently in.
James Bond made his return this year in a way I really enjoyed. From the opening action scene till the final I was hooked and cared about M and Bond. Plus Javier Bardem’s role as Silva is one of my favorites this year.
A movie which lead to very mixed reviews, but I’m in the camp who loved it. This movie had some of the most visually memorable sequences I saw this year. Add to this great performances by Gandolfini, Pitt and others and I couldn’t leave it out.
Expectations for this movie were very high and it seemed it couldn’t live up to them for many reviewers. I wasn’t one of them. It’s been such a long time since I saw a science fiction movie which I couldn’t wait to see again. Sure it has got it’s flaws, but does that really matter if you are taken into such an amazing world?
I almost forgot to include this one, but luckily I watched it again last week and I’m glad I did. Visually such an amazing feast and a story about first love that pulls you in.
This was the biggest surprise to me. I didn’t expect much from End of Watch, but the story of two cops played exquisitely by Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña is thrilling, moving and from time to time funny.
It seems not a year goes by where I don’t include a movie starring George Clooney and this year it is The Descendants. It shows Hawaï in a way you don’t seem often and is a movie which is funny, despite the story of a man trying to find out more about the lover of his deceased wife, while struggling with raising his daughters and having to decide about the future of a part of the islands.
I can’t remember an action movie which wowed me as much as The Raid did. Sure its complete story can be summed up in one sentence and there is no character development, but all of that doesn’t matter when it treats you to so much spectacle during its running time.
Ben Affleck proved again that he’s a talented director with his telling of this unbelievable, but true, story about the CIA trying to free embassy personnel from Iran impersonating a movie crew. It gives you no moment to breathe and there’s nothing to fault it for.
Number one is another true (and unbelievable) story about a rich disabled man deciding to hire an unqualified guy to take care of him. A heartfelt story which will make you smile. If you have not seen it yet, you should.
So what was your film year like and what were your favorite movies?
You’ve got some good picks up there. I put The Descendants as my third choice for the best film of 2011 and both Moonrise Kingdom and Skyfall would be on my list for this year.
Thanks! It really seems Clooney can’t do much wrong in my eyes and I always look forward to his new movies. Nice to hear you also really enjoyed Moonrise and Skyfall.
I give my full support to your Top 10. I can’t disagree with much of it (Although I didn’t see Killing Them Softly and I didn’t like The Raid) I am so amazed that you picked Intouchables as your #1. I LOVED that film but few in the U.S. saw it. Bravo!
Nice to hear Mark! I can understand if you weren’t a fan of The Raid, but it was right up my street. Intouchables is an amazing movie and should be seen by more people. I’m sure an American remake will be made but people should see this as I can’t imagine a remake being better.
Everybody are doing a list of “how many movies they saw” – I’m guessing I have a mission for 2013!
PS: You were one of my top commentators on my site, I felt a bit guilty since I don’t think I’ve commented as much. Another NY resolution – comment more!
Nice post!
I’ve been using a website to keep track of it all, called whatiwatch.net. It makes it really easy.
Always enjoy extra comments so I do hope to see you around a bit more! 🙂
Great seeing Intouchables in first place, puts me in a good mood just thinking about it (: I hope it wins the foreign language oscar. Also nice to see Skyfall here, which I loved too.
Glad you managed to fulfill your New Year’s resolutions, I’m also working my way through the IMDb top 250. Thanks for the guest post mention.
Yeah, it’s one of those movies I can watch endlessly, it’s such a feel good movie. Interested to see what your resolutions will be.
Glad to see Intouchables at number one! It made my top 10 but I haven’t seen it in many others! Argo, End of Watch and Skyfall also made my top 10!
Nice to see some similarities. You have a great taste in movies 😉
That is an epic amount of films you’ve seen this year, Nostra! Sort of jealous really.
Great picks for your top films. Itching to see Intouchables – looks like an excellent film and it’s not short of praise from pretty much everyone.
Yeah, traveling to work by train each day gives me lots of time to watch that many. At home I just don’t have the time for it.
Go watch it Jaina, I’m sure you will enjoy it. Will drop by your site soon as I saw you also looked back.
Missing “Intouchables” is probably my largest movie regret for 2012.
You are probably the first Top Ten list I have read that has “Descendants” on it, then I looked it up on IMDB to figure out why; it came out in 2011 in the States.
Do you think your low estimation of “Blazing Saddles” is due to your cultural background? In the US it is typically held in high-regard–myself included. Did it not translate well? Out of curiosity, what are your thoughts on “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”?
Try to catch it if you can. Yeah it was released at the beginning of the year. Might happen that Django will be on my list next year because it isn’t out yet.
I know blazing Saddles is highly regarded but I just didn’t think it was very funny. I have to admit I’m not a fan of that type of humor though. I do like Monty Python though.
I enjoyed your Hollywood History pieces and your reviews. My top film is Moonrise Kingdom.
Happy to hear that and I’m planning to do some more of them next year. Still have to write down my new resolutions. Thanks for all your comments this year, I really appreciate it.
Had a good year then 😀
It really was!
GREAT list! Some how I lost you from my “Blogs I Follow” list. It was great reading your stuff this year. Anxious to see what you have in store for us in 2013! Keep it up!
Might have been caused by the move to another server. Glad to hear you realised it. Already toying around with some ideas and am in the process of finishing up an interview which I think is really cool. Thanks for reading my blog and wish you all the best for the new year!
Hey, we have the same number 1 (currently). I love Intouchables. I hope it will won in prestigious awards, hopefully Oscar. Nice to see The Raid there. Thanks for your participation on My Movie Influence 🙂 And congrats for your blog’s progress
Great to see, it is an amazing film. Thanks a lot for the congrats!
You’ve accomplished a lot this year Nostra, congrats! Nice to see Skyfall and Argo on your top 10 list btw.
Yeah, I wouldn’t have guessed when it started how awesome it would be, but it was a very good blogging year!
Hi,
I really enjoyed reading this article. Well written and a there’s a lot of interesting information.
I’m very surprised when i read your top ten movies. A couple of movies are still on my watchlist, and i’ve seen some of them. I’m surprised to see that Skyfall and Prometheus both made it in your top ten, but i think it’s all about personal interests 🙂 And it’s funny to see that a lot of big budget movies like The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers didn’t make the final ten 🙂
Anywho, great article and a nice top ten!
Thanks Paul! Yeah, top 10 lists are always personal and I loved both Skyfall and Prometheus. As for Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers. They were both entertaining, but not movies I really look forward to seeing again.
Nice top ten … many of which I’m still to see. Can’t agree with Prometheus though … had its moments but overall disappointing.
Thanks Craig. Prometheus is a movie a lot of people didn’t like, but I’m not afraid to admit that I love it 🙂
Sounds like you had an awesome 2012, Nostra! I can’t say I agree about Take This Waltz being on your worst list, but I like a lot of your top 10. 🙂 Good call on The Intouchables — I liked that one a lot more than I expected.
I really did! I was sure someone was going to mention Take This Waltz, I just didn’t care for any of the characters and had a hard time getting through it. Happy to hear you also enjoyed Intouchables.
Nice to see someone who actually likes Killing Them Softly! Recent discussions on my site had that as one of the biggest disappointments. Great work Nostra, all the best for 2013 🙂
Yeah, I was so surprised a lot of people hated the movie. I thought it was stunning. Thanks for the new years wishes and also wish you a movie filled 2013.
Excellent round up post! I am glad to see The Descendants on your top 10. I really liked that movie too.
Thanks a lot Steph! It was such and funny and moving story with great acting all around.
Nice list Nostra and a lot of those films from 2011 were on my list last year. I have not seen your number one selection intouchables going to have to try and hunt that one down.
Thanks a lot! I wish releases were the same all around the world, but since that’s not the case I had to include some of last years movies in this one. Do try to see Intouchables, everyone I know who has seen it loves it. Looking forward to your thoughts on it!
A very nice summing-up of your movie-watching year! Your blog has been great during the whole year. Glad to hear you’re enjoying it yourself too.
I wasn’t very fond of Lockout or Take This Waltz either. The latter one was surprising, as it looked like a film that would be right up my alley. I just couldn’t buy into the characters. Alas.
I didn’t like The Descendants and Moonrise Kingdom as much as most did. They’re two fine movies, but neither would make any top 10 lists of mine, despite some stand-out qualities – like Descendants’ acting and MK’s cinematography. Glad to see some love for Prometheus in your Top 10, though. Strong movie that got shat on a bit too fiercely, I think.
Thanks Emil.
I had the same with Take This Waltz, the characters just didn’t appeal to me.
Yeah, Prometheus was the movie everyone loved to hate. Most people jumped the bandwagon…
I wasn’t a huge fan of Martha Marcy May Marlene but there is something very special about Elizabeth Olsen and I enjoy watching her on screen.
She is a great actress and I’m looking forward to seeing her in other movies.
Thanks for the view of my site and the comment. Liked your top ten, but I noticed a few movies (Martha May and Descendants) were from 2011. Is because they didn’t come to your neck of the woods until 2012?
Glad to see we both agreed Argo was on the best films of the year. Just a great entertaining movie made for adults that Hollywood should do more of, but rarely does.
As stated in the article they were not released in the Netherlands in 2011.
Really looking forward to seeing Argo again. Can’t wait to see what Affleck will do next.
a nice round up of your year, Nostra. Thanks for sharing. As I went through your list of perfect score movies, I saw Seven Pounds and said “Oh man, we are not going to agree on any of his perfect ones”…and then, I saw Argo on your list. totally agree with you there, sir!
Haven’t even heard of Intouchables yet. I will look it up.
Nice work. and some impressive stats. Always love the stuff here and am glad to be a regular visitor! 🙂
Hahaha, well Seven Pounds really managed to hit all the right notes, so I couldn’t do anything but give it a perfect score. I wasn’t everyone to agree with that though 🙂
Intouchables is a movie you should try to watch if you can. I know it had some negative reviews in the US, but it’s such a feel good movie that I urge you to check it out.
Glad to have you around T!
Thanks for reminding me that I need to see Intouchables too. I really need to get out to the cinema more in 2013 so I don’t miss so many of these top-rated movies.
No problem. Going to the cinema is an effort that sometimes hard to plan into your weekly schedule. I hope I’ll be able to go even more than I did last year.
Nice to see ‘The Raid’ up there. I just loved that film.
Yeah, I really should rewatch that again soon.
What a fantastic “Top Ten”. I have not seen “Intouchables”, but it seems to be making qutie a few lists…
Thanks a lot Daniel! There’s a good reason it is on those lists, try to see it if you can.
A lot of good stuff on this list. More importantly, it’s not just Oscar-bait.
Thanks Colin!
Good looking list… I didn’t get to catch Killing Them Softly or End of Watch, I wanted to however..
Thanks Arthur. Of course you should check out both of them 🙂
What a lovely wrap-up post! As always our lists aren’t that easy to compare since some of your movies haven’t been released here yet and others are 2011 to me. In any case I was especially happy to see love for Prometheus, which also is in my top 10, and for The Intouchables, which has gotten some crap for being sterotypical/racist, a criticism that I don’t understand at all. I laughed more at it than I probably did at any other film during the year and I felt very good doing so.
Thanks a lot Jessica for thos ekind words! Of course the opinions are always different when it comes to favorites (apart from the fact some movies were released in different years). Happy to that you also have Prometheus in your list as well as Intouchables. Like you I didn’t understand the crap it got either!
Wow both Prometheus and Argo making the top ten. Not in agreement with you on those hahaha…
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Make sure to submit your list to our Lion 4 LAMBs event that is currently running! http://www.largeassmovieblogs.com/2013/01/the-6th-annual-lions-for-lambs.html
Hahaha, you were not a fan then I presume 🙂
I will have a look at that post. Thanks Joel!
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