My Neighbour Totoro (1988, dir. Hayao Miyazaki) ***.5/****

I've always had a love for Japanese anime, especially films by Hayao Miyazaki.  He has the ability to capture the imagination of any viewer regardless of age.  My Neighbour Totoro tells the story of a family who move to a house in the countryside of somewhere in Japan.  The house is a beautiful, old run-down place which is inhabited by spirits both inside and outside.  The two young girls (voiced by sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning) befriend a few of these spirits living in the forest outside their house.  One of them, a large, fluffy, bear-like being they call "Totoro."  The film is a whimsical tale and depicts how these forest spirits eventually help the girls get out of trouble.  There is something magical about the film and the Japanese mythology is quite compelling.  Obviously, a film that is made for children has to be quite simple in plot but there is something charming about the movie and even adults will enjoy it for its beautiful imagery and childhood innocence.

George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011, dir. Martin Scorsese) ****/****

This documentary on George Harrison is one of the most interesting documentaries I have seen.  Martin Scorsese, continuing in the same vein as his previous documentary on Bob Dylan called No Direction Home, brings George Harrison's fabulous career as a musician with the Beatles and on his own to life.  He paints a picture of Harrison that captures all of his idiosyncrasies and talents and weaves a rich tapestry of a truly compelling musical figure.  Harrison's contribution to the Beatles is brought to light as well as his spiritual contributions which for him was a life-long exploration that was always in development.  In fact, the spirituality that George discovered is highlighted as the most important contributing factor to his music and his life.  With insightful comments from many different interviews from such people as Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, his form wives, son, and other friends, Scorsese's documentary portrays Harrison in a way previously unattained and gives him a respectful portrait as a towering musicians with an accomplished spiritual background.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011, dir. Lasse Hallstrom) ***/****

Lasse Hallstrom's Salmon Fishing in the Yemen tells a story of a fisheries expert who is approached by a consultant to realize a sheik's dream of bringing fly-fishing to a desert in the Yemen.  This is a fairly quirky tale as you can tell by this description but the screenplay is witty enough and the characters are compelling enough to make the viewer believe in it and enjoy it as it unfolds.  Ewan MacGregor, Emily Blunt and Kristin Scott Thomas are among the principle players and they all do a wonderful job of bringing heart and soul to a movie that you wouldn't expect to like.  There are some genuinely funny moments in this movie there are also moments of suspense.  I saw this film as part of a Film series at Shaw Festival and the audience applauded when the movie ended.  It has real wit and charm.

Les Miserables (2012, dir. Tom Hooper) ****/****

The film-musical version of Les Miserables is a sprawling epic:  engaging, enthralling, captivating and sensational.  The cast is dynamite and the staging of the musical numbers is extremely well-done.  I loved this film, but I'm also a huge fan of the original musical so perhaps I am a bit biased.  On the other hand, I think anyone will enjoy the movie who isn't familiar with the music and it will win over new fans to the musical version.  Some highlights are "One Day More", "Master of the House", and "At the End of the Day".  But the whole thing is brilliant.  The film is sure to garner multiple Oscar nominations, most notably for Best Picture, Actor (Hugh Jackman), and Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway).  The casting is perfect of all the principle characters.  The period detail is also very beautiful and Tom Hooper does a masterful job of bringing the musical to life on the big screen.

  

Total Recall (2012, dir. Len Wiseman) *.5/****

Total Recall is a remake of an Arnold Swartzenegger movie from 1990.  CGI has come a long way since then so they felt the desire to remake it.  Was it necessary?  Probably not.  The movie is confusing and boring.  In case you were wondering, there is an appearance made by the notorious triple-breasted woman of the original film.  Her inclusion in the film seems unnecessary and gratuitous.  The film itself is instantly forgettable.  The futuristic atmosphere is quite visually-pleasing.  But you leave the theatre with a sense of being let down and having spent two hours for nothing.  There is nothing you will take away from this useless remake.  Some will say its better than the original.  That is not saying much however because the original was nothing to sneeze at either.

Jack Reacher (2012, dir. Christopher McQuarrie) **/****

Jack Reacher is an action movie in the same vein as Dirty Harry and a Jason Bourne movie.  In it, Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) investigates the case of a homicidal maniac sniper who guns down innocent people.  It is a case of mistaken identity and Cruise's character must get to the bottom of a series of criminal activities and corruption.  It is simply an OK picture that is instantly forgettable and will definitely not make any end-of-the-year best films of 2012 lists.  It is to run-of-the-mill, derivative, and unoriginal.  I was left with an unpleasant feeling at the end of this picture because of all the gunplay and  killing in the wake of the recent killings in an elementary school in the US.  Definitely one that is not worth seeing again and even the lame title gives a hint as to the lame attempt at a compelling action picture.

Ted (2012, dir. Seth MacFarlane) ***/****

Ted has some very funny moments and delivers the typical comedic elements of an episode of The Family Guy only a little more raunchier.  Writer, director and star Seth MacFarlane pushes the envelope as far as risque humour goes and often ends up with some hilarious outcomes.  Ted is a teddy bear who comes to life one Christmas after his owner, played by Mark Wahlberg wishes that he was alive and was his best friend.  The grown up Wahlberg character is 35 and still living with his furry friend much to the dismay of his girlfriend played by Mila Kunis.  There isn't much of a plot to the movie and some of the material falls flat but there are some highlights.  Much of the humour is derived from the fact that Ted is a child's teddy bear but he still uses filthy language, smokes pot and drinks, and has sexual intercourse.  You may finish this movie with a slight feeling of being let down because the whole thing doesn't amount to anything very significant or earth-shattering.  But it is still a very funny movie that will make you laugh.

Rise of the Guardians (2012, dir. Peter Ramsey) ***/****

Rise of the Guardians tells the tale of Jack Frost and his recruitment into a group of guardians who are the characters of children's beliefs and wishes.  Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy, The Easter Bunny, and the Sandman are all part of this elite group and they need Jack Frost to join their group to help in the cessation of an evil mastermind named "Pitch" rise to prominence.  Pitch is slowly trying to instil fear in the hearts of children everywhere and make them stop believing in the various guardians.  This is a movie that is directed at children but I found that I was able to enjoy the film immensely at 34.  The animation is top-notch and beautiful to look at, especially if you are given the opportunity to see it in 3D.  There is a strong message to the film and will leave children with a stronger sense of belief and not to fear anything.  The message that one has to find your true inner self as Jack Frost does, is prominent by the end of the film.  I liked this film, although as animated films go, I have to admit that I liked Wreck-It Ralph a little better (adults will get more enjoyment out of that one).  Still a great kids movie and will make you feel good about yourself.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012, dir. Peter Jackson) ****/****

I had the pleasure of seeing the first instalment in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy in 3D.  The movie is tremendously entertaining and beautiful to look at.  The CGI is seamless with the live action.  The various creatures and background are all extremely realistic and expertly rendered to provide a powerful and enthralling cinematic experience.  There are some battle sequences in this movie that are amazing and truly exciting to watch.  J.R.R. Tolkien's novel is brought to life in a vivid and sprawling epic of a movie that will not fail to entertain viewers of any age.  The 3D in this movie adds significantly to the overall presentation and really puts you in the picture.  The movie ends making you wish the next two instalments would come out soon.  Highly recommended and enjoyable for all.

Wreck-It Ralph (2012, dir. Rich Moore) ***/****

Wreck-It Ralph is an animated tale intended for children but that doesn't mean adults cannot enjoy it.  The video game references that pop up through out the film will delight many men and women who spent some time in arcades in the 80's and 90's.  Ralph is a video game character in a game called "Fix-It Felix, Jr." and he is unhappy with his identification as a bad guy.  The movie portrays his attempt to overcome this label and rise above his surroundings.  The animation of this movie is top-notch.  The retro gaming sequences are great and will make certain older audience members feel nostalgic for a bygone age when graphics in video games were simple but had a certain beauty and allure about them. There are fictionalized video games that are mixed with real-life video games from the past and both are rendered realistically and accurately for the time they were made.  There is a brief short called "Paperman" that is a prelude to the movie and it is also very compelling and beautifully animated.  I recommend this movie for viewers of all ages.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012, dir. Christopher Nolan) ****/****

The Dark Knight Rises depicts Batman with all his frailties and weaknesses and how he must overcome them and "rise".  The action sequences in this picture are top-notch and spell-binding.  The direction by Nolan is phenomenal.  A new enemy, named Bane, is on the scene and he offers a tough opposition to Batman.  The performances in the film are all great as well.  The star-studded cast, including Anne Hathaway, Christian Bale, Jason Gordon Levitt, Gary Oldman, and Marion Cotillard, are all compelling to watch.  This is a very entertaining movie and completes the Dark Knight trilogy on a high note.

Life of Pi (2012, dir. Ang Lee) ****/****

Life of Pi tells the story of triumph in the face of insurmountable odds.  It teaches the viewer how to be more compassionate, wise, and world-centric.  Also, the value of exploring all religions regardless of one's own upbringing or religious background is emphasized.  Director Ang Lee does a masterful job of bringing Yan Martel's bestselling novel to life.  In the film, we follow the trials and tribulations in the early life of the lead character, Pi.  The film depicts him in his adult life retelling the adventure he had in his youth when he found himself stranded on a lifeboat after the ship that he was on sunk along with all its crew and his own family.  Somehow, a tiger also manages to get onboard the lifeboat and a large portion of the film shows the relationship between the ferocious carnivore and Pi.  If you have the chance to see the film in 3D, do so.  The visuals are spectacular and unforgettable.  All the performances are top notch.  You may feel more compassion for the animal kingdom as well as humanity after having seen this film.  Highly recommended.

Skyfall (2012, dir. Sam Mendes) ***.5/****

I must admit, I haven't seen every James Bond film ever made.  But Skyfall is a great, entertaining, action-packed film which even newcomers to the series will enjoy.  The action sequences in this film are exhilarating from the very first minute.  This time Bond is at his most vulnerable, coming back from a presumed death and rising to new heights.  In Skyfall, Bond (Daniel Craig) is in pursuit of a criminal mastermind (Javier Bardem) who has captured an important list of Agents which he intends to expose to the world.  This could be very dangerous.  M (Judi Dench) plays a prominent role and it is her life that is put in the hands of Bond who, once again, must save the world from terrorist domination.  Skyfall delivers on every level and will not disappoint.

Flight (2012, dir. Robert Zemeckis) ****/****

Flight is a compelling film that is driven by a great performance from Denzel Washington.  Washington stars as a pilot who manages to make a daring crash landing of a plane that is malfunctioning.  He ends up saving hundreds of lives through his expertise and skill at landing the plane.  The film then explores his characters alcohol and drug problems.  His character, it turns out, was under the influence during the flight and there are questions as to whether he will end up being incarcerated for this reason.  The film portrays his battle with and denial of his alcoholism.  It is inspiring to those who are trying to give up the bottle or drugs and vividly depicts the deterioration and problems associated with such addictions.  Don Cheadle and John Goodman also have co-starring roles.