Lets not make the mistake of saying that this film wasn't disappointing. I'm not sure how it got the hype surrounding it that it had opening weekend, but that was the point I stopped trusting the geek community. That said, this was still a pretty good movie in a time of the year ridden with cliche'd junk. Kick-Ass did something bold and new, and actually brought Nick Cage to the screen in a way in which I didn't want him burned alive. It was a fun, energetic, action-packed, semi-realistic (I say semi because of the bazooka and the jet pack), yet expendable pleasure. It set a standard for what a good movie should be. Not a great one, but a good one at least. (3 out of 4 stars)
There's always a certain time slot that a film should be released in, and if it's released at the wrong time, it could hurt. This was one of those instances, when Martin Scorcese's thriller was bumped to late February from its slot in October of last year. Had it released as originally scheduled, I think people would've liked it a lot more. However, times changed and expectations were put too high for the film. I still find Shutter Island to be one of the creepiest films to come out in a while, and even though I was able to see the twist coming about a half hour before it came, I was still gripped as I watched it all play out. Scorcese is one of the greatest directors in the business, and its nice to see him doing such a calculated and entertaining job with what could've been an extreme bore in anybody elses hands. (3 out of 4 stars)
This film didn't have to worry about disappointing, because nobody was really expecting anything special. I was bracing for the worst with this movie, and then it turned out to have a heart behind it. That's not the main reason I loved the movie, but it wouldn't be what it is without it. Jonah Hill tears through any thought of his minor role in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and gives a genuinely funny performance. Russell Brand's Aldous Snow is just a perfect mix of star meets character, and these two carry you through the weirder and more disturbing parts of the narrative. With several winning supporting roles, this was a surprise gem. (3.3 out of 4 stars)
2. How to Train Your Dragon
This film had expectations going very well against it, and I think that's what played a big part in its success. I think what made people react so emphatically with it was the abundance of low quality films at that period. People were just looking for a good movie, and this was a good, if not great movie. I've had several debates on the film regarding people placing it in their Best Picture predictions, because it could never be of Pixar quality. I do genuinely believe that this was a hugely entertaining and heartfelt film, which is something that most Dreamworks films have forgotten. Dragon takes a tip from Pixar, and favors story, emotion, and realism before all of its gags, and had it not been for Pixar, it might still be the best film of the year. (3.5 out of 4 stars).
1. Toy Story 3
Ridiculously high expectations can kill a film, and usually do. In that respect as well as others, Toy Story 3 is the Dark Knight of animated films, in that it exceeds those expectations. I don't want to oversell this movie, but it gave me just the same midnight experience I got from that Batman film back in 2008. It was a momentous occasion, and you could never guess what was going to happen next. The film is a mix of The Shawshank Redemption, The Departed, and obviously, Toy Story. There are several frightening moments, and I do say that they might frighten children, but most children enjoy the film more because of that. You can feel the threat, you relate to the toys, and it makes you feel a pinch in your heart for all the toys you ever threw away. (4 out of 4 stars)
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