iGR Staff 2012 Year in Review

2012 - The Staff’s Quick Entertainment Review

With the Oscars upon us, our resident Movie and Television writer Kyle Russell sent out a query to the rest of the staff. It asked four simple questions, which the staff could choose to either answer briefly or in detail. The questions were as follows:

What was your favorite movie that was released in 2012?

What was the biggest disappointment of 2012?

To what are you most looking forward in 2013?

What was the last movie made in 2012 that you’ve seen?

For the sake of understanding the last question, please note that these questions were sent out about two weeks ago so that each staff member could have plenty of time to consider their answers. Kyle decided to opt out of this. That’s mostly so the opinions are from a bunch of regular guys that don’t devote all of their writing on this site to the silver and wall-mounted screens. While some answers were brief, and a few weren’t entirely about movies (this is a gaming site, after all), the answers were fairly varied. If you wanted proof that the iGR staff is a diverse crowd, here it is!

Dylan Zellmer - Editor-in-Chief

Favorite Movie of 2012: Dredd 3-D

Not only because Karl Urban pulls off a continuous grimace for the duration of the film, but the subtle use of 3-D in the movie is spectacular. I think it was the 2012 sleeper of the year. Dredd was a box office flop, but has enjoyed huge numbers in it’s retail release. It may turn out to be a Sci-Fi Cult Classic. It didn’t hurt that my Girlfriend/Wife was cool enough to want to see this movie for her birthday. Thanks Hon!

Biggest Disappointment of 2012: Assassins Creed 3

It missed the mark with me big time. Ubisoft better be happy Nick did the review on IGR. I have owned the game for several months and haven’t completed Haytham’s portion of the story. If something fails to grab my attention three hours in, it’s time to put it down.

Most Anticipated of 2013: Pacific Rim.

Latest Movie Seen: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

It was better than expected. I didn’t appreciate the portrayal of Henry Sturges in the film. He was my favorite character of the novel, and they missed the mark more than slightly with him in the film. Joshua Speed, on the other hand, was very well done in the film (he was also played by a McPoyle) which gives him an obvious nod. Another decent use of 3-D, and the action sequence at the climax of the film more than made up for a slow start.

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Sam Griese - Media/Misc Reviews

Favorite Movie of 2012: Django Unchained

Biggest Disappointment of 2012: Assassin’s Creed III

Most Anticipated of 2013: PS4

Latest Movie Seen: Django Unchained

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Jimmy Sharp - Editorial Columns/Misc.

Favorite Movie of 2012: Tie: The Dark Knight Rises and Zero Dark Thirty

Forget what everyone told you, both were great films about characters grappling with deep emotional issues rising up against the odds to take down villains bigger than life. Emotional chaos and the will to overcome all obstacles won 2012 for me.

Biggest Disappointment of 2012: Tie: Act of Valor and Prometheus.

The first proved that the best of concepts won’t make a movie work if the people in the film can’t act (I still love you, SEALs!), while the second proved that even the best of actors won’t make a movie work if the concept makes no sense.

Most Anticipated of 2013: Star Trek Into Darkness

JJ Abrams ability to talk and say nothing at the same time is still the most addictive thing on earth.

Latest Movie Seen: Seven Psychopaths

Sam Rockwell’s best work. Ever. Plus Christopher Walken. Plus Collin Ferrell actually using his true accent. Mix it up an you get one of the funniest dark comedies since Groundhog Day.

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Nicholas Villarreal - XBox 360 Reviews

Favorite Movie of 2012: Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World

While others on the site may choose things like The Avengers, I don’t remember many films made last year in such detail as this one. A film that promises a bittersweet ending, but still manages at turns to be funny, sweet, outrageous, and moving deserves recognition. The road trip element really adds to the story. If you missed it, buy the Blu-ray.

Biggest Disappointment of 2012: The Amazing Spider-Man

Reboots of franchises that had a last film that under-performed or received heavy criticism seem to have worked well. Star Trek and Batman come to mind. But the Spider-Man reboot took the Ultimate Spider-Man story, and decided that instead of letting the film be light-hearted and whimsical, went for the “gritty version” route. It didn’t work as well as it could have, and thus we got a mediocre film that left audiences wondering why the studio bothered. It was a bald-faced cash grab, and it reinforced my decision to avoid Sony products.

Most Anticipated of 2013: Tie: Star Trek Into Darkness and Oz the Great and Powerful

I’m in a Star Trek fan club, so the first one was a given. However, I love Wicked (the book and the musical), so if this retelling of the origin of Oscar Zoroander Diggs in Oz is done anywhere near as well, it should be a fun ride.

Last Movie Seen: Broken City

This was not a great film. However, the film allows Russell Crowe to redeem himself from his poor performance as Javert in Les Miserables. Mark Wahlberg makes a good showing, though, which should be expected, given that he plays the main character.

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Zach Zellmer: PC Reviews

Favorite Movie of 2012: Django Unchained

Biggest Disappointment of 2012: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Most Anticipated of 2013: Iron Man 3

Latest Movie Seen (was it good?): Seven Psychopaths. It was good.

So there you have it. Everybody but Nick loved an action movie this past year. Two writers loved Oscar nominees, and two writers loved films that are more likely to become cult classics. Dylan and Sam agree that the final Assassin’s Creed installment was a bigger disappointment than any movie that they’d seen. Barring Sam looking forward to the PlayStation 4, everybody else is looking forward to some action films. And nobody saw the same most recent movie as anybody else. If you wanted proof that this is a site of diverse opinions, you’ve got it right here. Thanks for reading, and enjoy the Oscars!