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1.01.12 # Action Movies # 29 CommentsThe Man With The Iron Fists
Starring: RZA, Russell Crowe, Rick Yune, Pam Grier, Lucy Liu, Forest Whitaker
Director: RZA
Out: 2nd November 2012
In feudal China, a blacksmith (RZA) who makes weapons for a small village is put in the position where he must defend himself and his fellow villagers. From Tarantino-collaborator and Wu-Tang Clan supremo RZA, and produced by Eli Roth, this is an ode to kung-fu, aiming at a cool, fun vibe, along the lines of ’36th Chamber of Shaolin’ or ‘Five Deadly Venoms.’ We’re promised a side to Russell Crowe we haven’t seen before. His character name is ‘The Baddest Man Alive’. It’s his presence that makes this intriguing for me. [Critics: 49%] [Public: 5.5] – Mixed Reaction
Skyfall (Bond 23)
Starring: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney
Director: Sam Mendes
Out: 9th November 2012
MGM’s bankruptcy troubles are behind them so Bond is finally back in production. The plot sees him question his loyalty to M when her past actions bring serious consequences to the present. After MI6 itself is attacked, Bond must seek out and eliminate the threat. Bardem plays the main villian. Fiennes’ role is undisclosed. Young Ben Whishaw is the new Q. China will be one of the main locations. Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Jarhead) directs from a script by Wade and Purvis, who’ve been the main writers on every Bond since TWINE. Quantum was a stumble from Casino Royale, replacing freshness with formula. Hopefully they’ve learnt from the mistake. 2012 will be the 50th anniversary of Dr. No and the franchise. [Critics: 92%] [Public: 7.8] – Excellent
Red Dawn
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Adrianne Palicki, Josh Peck, Isabel Lucas
Director: Dan Bradley
Out: 21st November 2012
Chris Hemsworth (Thor) stars in this remake of the worst-fears-realised action-thriller from ’84, about an invasion of the U.S. mainland by the Soviets and their Central American allies. That story focused on a group of American high school students who resisted their foreign occupiers through guerrilla warfare. This time, it’s a North Korean invasion. It was filmed as the Chinese army, but the studio lost its nerve and altered the flags in post-production. Nonetheless, with the Cold War long over this feels like an edgy, un-pc concept and I’m extremely curious to see the result. Also, due to MGM’s bankruptcy, it’s been sitting on the shelf for over 2 years, so long that Kim Jong-Il has died waiting, so that’ll have to be updated too. [Critics: 13%] [Public: 5.2] – Mediocre
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Starring: Martin Freeman, Sir Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis
Director: Peter Jackson
Out: 14th December 2012
Hobbit Bilbo (Freeman) begins his journey to the Lonely Mountain accompanied by a group of dwarves to reclaim a treasure taken from them by the dragon Smaug. The first movie in what has now become ‘The Hobbit’ Trilogy. ‘The Desolation of Smaug’ follows exactly one year later, and the final chapter, ‘There and Back Again’ comes six months after that. Sir Ian ‘Gandalf’ McKellen returns, as does Andy Serkis, Cate Blanchett, and Hugo Weaving. Also in the mix are smaller roles for Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Ian Holm, and Christopher Lee. Some have had their fill of ‘Lord Of The Rings’, but after a 9 year break most will be pretty excited to see this particular story finally done right. The trailer has an adventurous spirit, showcasing fun and frolicking alongside hints of darkness to come. [Critics: 65%] [Public: 8.2] – Very Good
Jack Reacher
Starring: Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Robert Duvall, Werner Herzog
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Out: 21st December 2012
[Critics: 62%] [Public: 7.1] – Very Good
Django Unchained
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Out: 25th December 2012
Spaghetti western set in America’s Deep South, which Tarantino calls “a southern”. The plot follows a slave-turned-bounty hunter (Foxx) who, with the help of his German mentor (Waltz), sets out to rescue his wife (Washington) from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner (DiCaprio). A plantation owner who forces his slaves to fight in twisted death matches. The fantastic cast also includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sacha Baron Cohen, Kurt Russell, Don Johnson, James Remar, Anthony LaPaglia, RZA and Tom Savini. It will be very interesting to see DiCaprio in a villain role, especially such a nasty one. [Critics: 89%] [Public: 8.6] – Excellent
SUMMARY
Excellent – ‘The Raid: Redemption’, ‘The Avengers’, ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, ‘Looper’, ‘Skyfall’, ‘Django Unchained’
Very Good – ‘MIB 3′, ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’, ‘The Bourne Legacy’, ‘The Expendables 2′, ‘Dredd’, ‘The Hobbit’, ‘Jack Reacher’
Decent – ‘Contraband’, ‘Safe House’, ‘John Carter’, ‘Safe’, ‘Snow White And The Huntsman’
Mixed Reaction – ‘Haywire’, ‘Act Of Valor’, ‘This Means War’, ‘Lockout’, ‘Total Recall’, ‘The Man With The Iron Fists’
Mediocre – ‘Red Tails’, ‘Wrath Of The Titans’, ‘Battleship’, ‘Resident Evil: Retribution’, ‘Red Dawn’
Avoid – ‘Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance’
Leave your thoughts on 2012′s action movies in the comments.
What are your top 3 picks?
Okay, no joke, the Clash (Wrath, Bath, Math) of the Titans sequel look pretty damn fun. Can’t believe the sequel looks so much better than the original … though still not “good” in an objective sense.
The Lockout trailer rocks my balls off!
Holy crap.
LOOPER! I love that director, it’s going to rock.
Django, Skyfall … the list goes on. 2012 looks like a VERY good year for action adventure, all these movies look like a blast.
Let’s get real. The Avengers will be the best action movie of 2012. It’s all the stars of the most enjoyable action films of the last five years put into the same one. No brainer. The Dark Knight Rises can’t possibly live up the The Dark Knight. Bane is no Joker.
Dude, I believe you haven’t seen The Expendables 2 yet.
Nice list and some I’m actually looking forward to but whats with ‘The unfairly maligned McG’, really? he has a worse CV than Schumacher so i’m hoping that was a typo.
He became a figure of hate after Charlie’s Angels, now it doesn’t matter what he does, the fanboy community won’t give him a break. Terminator Salvation wasn’t half as bad as it was claimed to be.
Thats true but mostly justified, here is a guy who, regardless of quality still gets to spend millions of other peoples money when all we film watchers want is a good movie. Terminator Salvation wasn’t terrible but he had everything at his disposal to make it the film it should’ve been but he blew it. Until he makes a ‘Phone Booth’ he will continue to find himself vilified.
I am seriously looking forward to TDKR and Safe, if it lets Statham flex a little more than his biceps like you say
I think McG’s movies are average, not dreadful, is what I’m saying. He’s only directed 4 in his life and 3 of them were ok. Schumacher’s directed 23.
4! is that all? thank god for small mercies
2012 looks very good for action films, alot of these are pretty interesting. The last film that had ‘Sweet Dreams’ by Marilyn Manson playing in the trailer was one of the worst I’ve ever seen(Gamer) I dont have any high hopes for Wrath Of Titans..
Looks much better than the comedy selection, especially Safe House, Looper and Django Unchained.
The 2012 action movies I’m looking forward to most are Lockout, Total Recall and The Dark Knight Rises.
I think this time for the expendables, they have make it. With the coming of vanne damm and chuck norris means the best movie ever. Lets hope so
I’m so excited to watch this new spider man. It seems interesting
What? No The Raid: Redemption??? I’m outta here!
Have been meaning to add it. It’s there now.
I think the best action movie of 2012 was transformers 3 dark side of the moon
The best of trilogy
That one was last year.
i must say nice collection and nice work.
It’s not only a good year in movies, also in games.
I’m gonna spent al my money on all good games and movies that are gonna come this year!
The Expendables pile of crap, they must use a template for the story
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