My Top 10 Films of 2012

It’s that time of year again, so here are my top 10 films of 2012.

I think it’s fair to say that it’s been a very hit and miss year for film this year with some exceptional releases scattered throughout 2012, but with some completely disappointing films filling in the months between (Anything involving Taylor Kitsch, I’m looking at you!). From the end of trilogies (The Dark Knight Rises) to the start of new ones (The Hunger Games, The Amazing Spider-Man), to the combination of many film characters into one big blockbuster (Avengers Assemble) and to some brilliant novel adaptations (On The Road, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower), we’ve certainly had it all. Read below to see what I thought of the year in film, and feel free to let me know what you thought about the year too.

I still need to see a couple more films, so for a constantly updated list you can visit my Letterboxd page.

Comment: Apparently it Does Matter if You’re Black or White

(Edited version of my competition entry. Click image to view layout on ISSUU.)

Racism is something we’re all aware; we hear about it constantly in society, in football and in our everyday lives, but what about in film?

It’s likely that you would have heard stories about directors, writers and producers typecasting characters and it’s not uncommon to see particular actors play the same racial stereotype all of the time. What is a rarity, however, is an audience’s reaction when they don’t agree with the race of a character cast in a certain role.

Competition Entry: Prejudice In Film

(Written for a competition to write for MTV Sticky, which I won.)

You may have heard that The Hunger Games has done extremely well since its release last month, making over $350M worldwide and clinging on to the top of the box office for four whole weeks, but did you hear about those who only had negative things to say about the film?

In Retrospect – Issue 8

A film guide for March 2012 including reviews for:

– The Hunger Games
– John Carter
– This Means War
– 21 Jump Street
– Wrath Of The Titans

Click here to read.

In Retrospect is a monthly film publication that I make just for a bit of fun, visit the blog here.

Film Review: The Hunger Games

(Published in Issue 8 of my publication In Retrospect)

The first in a trilogy of novels written by Suzanne Collins‘ best-selling series, The Hunger Games is set in a dystopian future where, in order to maintain peace in the 12 districts of Panem, 24 young representatives are forced to compete in a televised game each year, where they must fight to the death until only one remains. With the film adaptation directed by Gary Ross, the story centres on the character of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), a young woman living in the poorest of districts who, when her sister Primrose (Willow Shields) is chosen to compete in the games, volunteers herself as tribute alongside fellow district competitor Peeta (Josh Hutcherson).

Pitted against the richest of tributes, who have been training all their lives, Katniss is thrown into the colourful world of the rich in interviews with TV host Caeser Flickerman (Stanley Tucci), stylist Cinna (Lenny Kravitz), and Game escort Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks). But with only the mentoring skills of the drunk and bitter Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) to prepare her, does Katniss even stand a chance of returning home to her family? And how will seducing her district competitor in order to attract sponsors affect the harbouring romance she has with Gale (Liam Hemsworth) back at home?

Book v Film: The Hunger Games

“Deep in the meadow, hidden far away / A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray. / Forget your woes and let your troubles lay, / And when it’s morning again, they’ll wash away. / Here it’s safe, here it’s warm. / Here the daisies guard you from every harm. / Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true, / Here is the place where I love you.”

The first in a trilogy of novels written by Suzanne Collins‘ best-selling series, The Hunger Games is set in a dystopian future where, in order to maintain peace in the 12 districts of Panem, 24 young representatives are forced to compete in a televised game each year, where they must fight to the death until only one remains. With the film adaptation directed by Gary Ross, the story centres on the character of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), a young woman living in the poorest of districts who, when her sister Primrose (Willow Shields) is chosen to compete in the games, volunteers herself as tribute alongside fellow district competitor Peeta (Josh Hutcherson).

Pitted against the richest of tributes, who have been training all their lives, Katniss is thrown into the colourful world of the rich in interviews with TV host Caeser Flickerman (Stanley Tucci), stylist Cinna (Lenny Kravitz), and Game escort Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks). But with only the mentoring skills of the drunk and bitter Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) to prepare her, does Katniss even stand a chance of returning home to her family? And how will seducing her district competitor in order to attract sponsors affect the harbouring romance she has with Gale (Liam Hemsworth) back at home?

Producers Talk ‘The Hunger Games’ Sequel

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

With the release of the long-awaited big screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins‘ The Hunger Games this weekend, THR have spoken with producers Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik about making the next two books into three films.

Directed by Gary Ross and starring Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson, The Hunger Games is set in a dystopian future world of North America, now named Panem, where teenagers are chosen to battle to the death in an annual televised games where only one can survive, an attempt to maintain control by those living in the Capitol.

The Hunger Casual Games: Facebook Launch Tie-In Adventure

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

With the release of The Hunger Games this weekend, Facebook have launched The Hunger Games Adventures so that you can experience the games for yourself.

Launched today, The Huffington Post were given a world-exclusive first look at the new game earlier in the week. Now you can experience the game for yourself which, run by Funtactix, the company behind the online games for the movies Mission: Impossible and Rango, features the first official map of Panem, the fictional world that the story is set in.

Book Review: The Hunger Games

“Deep in the meadow, hidden far away / A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray. / Forget your woes and let your troubles lay, / And when it’s morning again, they’ll wash away. / Here it’s safe, here it’s warm. / Here the daisies guard you from every harm. / Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true, / Here is the place where I love you.”

The first in a trilogy of novels written by Suzanne Collins, originally published in 2008, The Hunger Games is set in a dystopian future of North America called Panem, where, in order to maintain peace in the 12 districts, 24 young representatives are forced to compete in an annual televised game known as The Hunger Games. Two tributes are chosen at random in each district every year and must fight to the death until only one remains. The story centres on Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old girl living in the poorest of the districts who, when her sister Primrose is chosen to compete in the games, volunteers herself as tribute alongside fellow district competitor, Peeta Mellark.

‘The Hunger Games’ Pre-Game Special: New IMAX Banner & Character Images

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

Lionsgate has released a new IMAX banner for the first film in an adaptation of Suzanne Collins‘ best-selling and eagerly awaited trilogy of novels, The Hunger Games, with a set of new character images that have also made their way online this week.

Directed by Gary Ross, the big screen adaptation is set in a post-apocalyptic North America, now named Panem, where teenagers are chosen to battle to the death in annual televised games where only one can survive, an attempt to maintain control by those living in the Capitol in this very dystopian society.

New ‘The Hunger Games’ Image Featuring Lenny Kravitz

(Written for HeyUGuys)

The latest image for the big screen adaptation of the first novel in Suzanne Collins‘ The Hunger Games trilogy introduces us to the latest big name to join the cast, Lenny Kravitz.

After his first feature-film role in the 2009 drama Precious, this is only singer-songwriter Kravitz’s second non-cameo role. “In the last 22 years, while I was making my music, I was offered a lot of films,” Kravitz told Rolling Stone. “I just didn’t find the roles very interesting – a lot of clichéd type of stuff and really obvious things. I didn’t want to make films because I can. There’s no point in that.”

11 New Hunger Games Images As New Tie-In Site Launches

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

As a new viral tie-in website launches for The Hunger Games, eleven new images have also been put online, giving us a closer look at many of the characters.

Based on the hugely successful novel trilogy by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games is set in the futuristic world of Panem, as the story follows a young girl, Katniss (played by Jennifer Lawrence), as she becomes a contestant in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death competition held by the government in which only one young person will survive.

Films To Look Forward To In 2012

2012 has only just begun, and we’re already talking about some of the amazing films that are set to be released over the next year. With many anticipated films that have already been released in the US that we are yet to see, to the many Marvel films that we are frantically waiting for, we won’t be short of great films to put on the ‘to see’ list. Let’s not forget Peter Jackon’s The Hobbit as well, of course.

So, films of 2012, assemble! Here’s a list of what to look forward to this year, and also a few that you may want to avoid.

The New ‘Hunger Games’ Jigsaw Poster Revealed!

Over the day, 100 different websites from all over the world have released a single, small piece of the new Hunger Games poster in a jigsaw-style puzzle viral event.

The film, directed by Gary Ross, follows twelve Districts who each send a girl and boy, trained in combat, into the heart of a jungle until only one is left alive. Adapted from Suzanne Collins’ 2008 young adult science fiction novel, it stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Wes Bentley, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Toby Jones, and Donald Sutherland, and is set to be released on 23rd March, 2012.