Holy cow, guys. I watched 34 new-to-me movies in January. Aside from the 15 movies I watched as part of my 2014 movie challenge, I've also been watching through movies from 2012 and a bunch of movies that I watched just because. So here's a quick recap of what I saw, in order from my favorite to my least favorite. Links lead to my (slightly longer) reviews on my movie blog.
Frozen (2013) - Disney's best non-Pixar movie in fourteen years. A truly magical twist on the classic princess story with much more appropriate and healthy messages for kids and possibly the two best Disney female character of all time.
Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) - An enchanting fantastical story with one of the most engaging child protagonists ever.
The Grey (2011) - I was completely caught off guard by how poignant I found it. Definitely potential to be a favorite.
Repulsion (1965) - Truly scary psychological horror flick with a slow but effective build.
The Great Gatsby (2013) - In true Baz Luhrmann style, this movie looks unbelievably gorgeous. I could just look at it all day.
He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not (2002) - Revealing too much of the plot would be spoilery, so suffice it to say I really really enjoyed it and you should all go see it.
Do the Right Thing (1989) - Still sitting with this one, as I found it moving in a way I can't articulate.
Video Game High School (2012) - A condensed, movie-length version of a web series, it's very episodic but holds together surprisingly well, and, more important, it's really funny.
Robot & Frank (2012) - Quirky but ever so charming little sci-fi drama.
Silent Movie (1976) - A fun and enjoyable homage to silent movies and slapstick.
Crazy Heart (2006) - A gentle, heartfelt portrayal of a wonderfully layered character.
Choke (2008) - Sam Rockwell is great fun, even if I wasn't terribly satisfied with the ending.
Chronicle (2012) - Not an objectively great movie, but I found myself truly enjoying it.
True Grit (1969) - Despite my dislike for westerns, this one works, largely because of the character of Mattie.
Apollo 13 (1995) - Solid, though it didn't quite live up to the high expectations I had for it.
Dakota Skye (2008) - A creative premise that never quite grips me emotionally.
Monsters University (2013) - Meh. I've come to expect so much more with Pixar. It's a completely unnecessary sequel that does nothing to enhance the original.
Show Me Love (1998) - A cute love story with some nicely realistic characters.
Prometheus (2012) - Took a really long time to get going, though it was super fun once it got there.
Dredd (2012) - An enjoyably artsy thriller.
Bananas (1971) - Though there were several jokes I laughed at, there was a lot in between that I didn't.
Lawless (2012) - I remember enjoying it, but only a few weeks later, I've forgotten most of it.
Crank (2006) - Nice premise, but I get antsy during action movies and this is no exception.
Skyfall (2012) - Mercifully more lighthearted than Casino Royale, but still far too long to keep me interested.
Mud (2012) - Decent script and acting, but completely forgettable.
Send Me No Flowers (1964) - A funny, dark script that falls apart due to all the wrong casting choices.
Midnight Cowboy (1969) - I'm pretty sure there's a meaningful movie in here somewhere, but I couldn't find it.
The People vs. Larry Flint (1996) - The character of Larry Flynt was weirdly uncomfortable for me to watch. Just kind of... squirmy.
The Librarian: Quest for the Spear (2004) - Unfortunately, the acting was not quite campy enough for me to love it as a so-bad-it's-good flick, so it just kinda flounders.
All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989) - A confusing movie that's very dark for kids and very poorly-constructed for adults.
The Cowboys (1972) - I tried so hard to give this movie a shot, but I was just bored the whole time.
Courageous (2011) - This movie isn't even clear on its message, making it not only a bad drama but also a bad message movie.
Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) - The only redeemable thing about this dismal, ugly flick is that a couple of the special effects are kind of cool-looking, in a dismal, ugly way.
Gridiron Gang (2006) - One of the least original sports movies I've ever seen. There's nothing here that's not a cliche.
Phew! That's a very long list. Have you seen any of these? What did you think of them?
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