60. Ted

While Ted is good fun; it is as Riggs and Murtaugh (circa Lethal Weapon) would say, 'pretty fucking thin.'

At times it feels like an extended episode of Family Guy, which is no bad thing, and while 'the fight scene' is a highlight and there are many amusing Flash Gordon inspired moments, as a whole it's just not as great as it could have been.

Overall then, a 'plenty of laughs' out of 'could have been awful'.

59. The Dark Knights Returns Part 1

After Batman: Year One I wasn't holding out much hope for this 'DC Universe Animated Original Movie'. I can happily report it's actually very good! I think this is more to do with the source materail than what the animators have done here but I cannot deny, it's a rollicking good ride!

As far as the animation is concerned, it's a step up from Year One and the all action narrative really suits the medium. For everyone that has read the book, there is enough here to recommend you check it out.

Quality!

58. Killer Joe

Matthew Maccaroni is really, really good in Killer Joe. In fact he is pretty freaking amazing considering he is the acting equivalent of rehydrated gristle (usually).  However the best thing in the movie (which jam packed with top peformances) is the bottom feeding, slack jawed Ansel (a crumbly faced Thomas Haden Church).

Overall, it's a grim and grotty affair but not without a certain psychotic charm and you'll certainly never look at KFC in the same way after seeing it.

57. Blue Valentine

Ouch! This is one those films that's almost too real in it's depiction of a relationship breakdown. If you've ever been involved in one those arguments that goes round and round in circles without any resolution (and enjoyed it) then you'll love this film!

Gosling and Williams do excellent impressions of normal looking people - especially Gosling and his 'present day Dean' hair line which makes him almost unrecognisable.

Overall it's an enjoyable tale of sadness and heartbreak set in an all to real place for a Sunday evenings viewing.

56. Cemetery Junction

 

Cemetery Junction is the best film John Hughes didn't make. It's also the most 'ungervais' movie Ricky Gervais will make. By that I mean it lacks acerbic, nasty and sometimes hilariously cruel humour he can dish out for a more positive and sunny outlook on the proceedings.

This is to his and the films credit as it is a beautifully entertaining comedy that is both very, very funny, nicely observed and all warm and fluffy with it.

55. Moonrise Kingdom

Upon seeing the trailer for Moonrise Kingdom I thought 'standard Wes Anderson', which is great, although not unexpected.

What you actually get it is the best children's movie of the year (of 2012) that isn't really made for them, which doesn't really matter as none of them will see it. I can imagine some of the excellent young cast (Jared Gilman & Kara Hayward are particularly spectacular) of the film actually watching this thinking 'what the hell is this all about?'

Its a wonderful tale of youthful discovery with a bit of the great escape thrown in for good measure. I loved every minute of it.

54. From Russia With Love

From Russia with Love is the first Bond movie to really establish 'the formula' of the many Bond films to follow and is a full on Bond caper from start to finish!

The pre-credits sequence, the introduction of Q, a proper theme tune and for the first time featuring some spectacular action sequences. A classic henchman turn from Robert Shaw and this really has whetted, my already considerably moist, appetite for the rest of the Bond 50 box set.

Onward!