Disappointments of 2012: Jonesy Edition!

As much as we hope for an awesome and perfect year of films where all movies meet and/or exceed our expectations, the disappointments are inevitable. When compiling my list, I realized that, in the end, a film will disappointment me if the story isn't there. I can handle wishy-washy characters, shoddy dialogue, and even mediocre directing, but if the story is uneven and poorly written, I'm less forgiving. 

So for better or worse, here, in no particular order, are my disappointments for 2012:

Netflix Instant TV & Movie Picks: Year in Review Edition

So now that the year is ending, I figured it'd be a great time to look back at some of the cooler movies and TV shows I've seen on Netflix Instant that have NOT been highlighted in columns past. Now, to preface, none of these are necessarily movies or shows that have come out in the year, but there's nice gems that range from all genres in my opinion.  Check them out below!

Netflix Instant TV and Movie Picks: Life Affirming Movies Edition!

If you're reading this, then congratulations! You've made it through the Mayan Apocalypse. As we all breathe a collective sigh of relief that we've made it through the end of the world, and by end of the world I mean the the relief of moving past annoying social media posts and memes, we can now go back to our regularly scheduled life of viral dance videos and reading end of the year lists. Now we can brace ourselves for the next calendar to end, the next crazy group to claim the apocalypse is coming, or for actually fire to fall from the sky.

But until any of that happens, lets all have a nice group hug and watch some life affirming films (fantastic idea by my cohort) together this weekend as we wrap the gifts that we I put off until the last minute.

PAIN AND GAIN Trailer Only has Five Explosions; Is Considered Michael Bay's Most Intimate Movie Yet

Michael Bay is anything but subtle. This PAIN & GAIN trailer definitely shows us this and this is supposed to be his "indie" movie. Anyway, the movie deals with body building bros being bros and watching too many Coen Bros. movies. Just like with a Coen Bros. movie, everything goes wrong when the trio of bodybuilding bros kidnaps and robs a crime lord. Check out Mark Wahlberg looking wayyyyyyy too buff for his own good in the trailer below which comes via IGN.

A New THE GREAT GATSBY Trailer Drops!

Among the many big films out this time a year, THE GREAT GATSBY was suppose to be among them. However, the film got pushed back until next May. The first trailer was dropped this past summer, and now we have a brand new one to gush about for the next six months.


Check it out!

Because You Need More "Is He Khan?" Articles, Here's the New STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS Teaser

With this latest trailer, the lead-up to STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS will be filled with even more of the most annoying articles debating a single character's identity. Regardless, this is a J.J. Abrams movie, and I want to see it sooner than later. This film definitely seems to be more serious, which is fine for what I imagine to be the second entry in a trilogy. Check out the great trailer below which comes from Apple via First Showing .

Netflix Instant: TV & Movie Picks - Guest Post with Brian Saur

This week Jonesy and I were a little busy with this thing called "life" so I asked Mr. Brian Saur to contribute a column for us. Brian runs the amazing blog, Rupert Pupkin Speaks, where he constantly highlights movies from all decades. His knowledge of film always leave me in awe and it's great honor to have him contribute to this column. Check it out after the break.

2nd GI JOE RETALIATION Trailer Drops! Now with 75% More Tatum!

I'm of two minds regarding his movie. Back when the first trailer showed up, I was really into it. It seems that they were going to be killing of the world's most charming potato, Channing Tatum, pretty early on in the film to make way for a new team. Right before the release, the studio delayed the movie by a year for an up-conversion to 3D, supposedly. This trailer shows off the real reason for the delay.

 Now, this new trailer show Tatum's Duke in an expanded role along with the Rock. I will say I'm a little disappointed that they weren't bold enough to kill off Duke. So while I'm still excited for this movie, I liked the idea of having a series of GI JOE movies that replace the team with each outing since they're really the most boring characters of the franchise compared the Cobra group. But see for yourself and tell me what you think! Check out the new trailer below thanks to Yahoo! Screen via Film School Rejects.

PACIFIC RIM Trailer Looks Like a Badass Version of my Childhood

Seriously, this is the most anticipated movie of 2013 for me. Not only do we have director Guillermo Del Toro actually making a movie, but it's a freaking robits (robots) and kaiju (think Godzilla type monsters) fighting for the future of mankind. Watch the trailer, which comes courtesy of Apple via Badass Digest, below.

MAN OF STEEL trailer is so dark and gritty, it's almost like a Batman movie

Just in case you guys couldn't tell I was joking. It's really not. Reading some of the reactions of fellow writer types online, I kept on seeing the "dark and gritty" description being used again and again to describe this trailer. I respectfully say "y'all be trippin'." I think MAN OF STEEL looks interesting. This looks to be a more refined approach the more thoughtful type of Superman we got in SUPERMAN RETURNS. And I'll be honest, I've never been a big fan of the Superman character in most media, so I'm always open to a new direction or interpretation for the character. Check out this gorgeous trailer courtesy of the Warner Bros YouTube page below.

THE LONE RANGER trailer is full of action, explosions, and slight racism?

Johnny Depp has become one of the most hit or miss actors working today. It feels like the PIRATES movies ruined him a little to the point where even his non-blockbuster movies were a little off (see THE RUM DIARIES). So I'm a little skeptical to see him reuniting with director Gore Verbinski with another big Disney movie. What has me interested is the hope that Armie Hammer will have a decent role for once. That guy is charming as hell in interviews and he hasn't been given a chance to shine post-THE SOCIAL NETWORK. So check out the trailer below which comes to us via the folks over at Screen Rant.

OBLIVION Trailer Drops!

Love him or hate him, Tom Cruise makes some fun action movies. I've always enjoyed him as an action star, and his new sic-fi action film looks entertaining as hell.

Set in a futuristic Earth (which I'm spying a pattern for next summer), Cruise is a technician who cleans up drones years after a war has left Earth in shambles. However, during his last few weeks on the job, as always, he starts uncovering secrets including stumbling across a band of rebels led by Morgan Freeman.

Check the trailer after the jump.

AFTER EARTH Trailer or How M. Night Shyamalan Got His Groove Back

Wait. Is it possible? Did M. Night Shyamalan get his grove back? Has he stopped with the killer plants, director cameos, and twist endings and directed an intense sic-fi thriller? It looks as though it might have happened.

AFTER EARTH is his latest directing endeavor. It is set 1000 years after cataclysmic events have forced humans to move from Earth to Nova Prime. A general (Will Smith) comes home from an extended tour of duty to reconnect with his family, especially his son (Jaden Smith). However, their spacecraft gets damaged and crash lands in a dangerous part of Earth where the son must search and find their rescue beacon.

Check out the trailer after the break.

Netflix Instant: TV & Movie Picks - So You're Single During The Holidays Edition

I'm pretty open about the fact that I'm not a big fan of Christmas and the holiday seasons for many reasons. Between the crappy Christmas music and the Lifetime movies, December can't end enough, but for some reason it's especially worse for single people during the holidays. Since I'm in this particular situation this year, I figured it'd be pretty appropriate to highlight some movies that will totally that will remind you that you're single. Remember that everyone of these movies should be seen on a Friday night with a bottle of wine. Alone. In the dark. Check out my picks after the break.

STAR TREK INTO THE DARKNESS Teaser Drops a Cumberbatch of Explosions on Your Face

When J.J. Abrams STAR TREK came out in 2009, I made a, what I thought was, smart bet with my cohort about which film would make more at the box office opening weekend. I picked STAR TREK. He picked TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN. Needless to say that even though I picked the better film, I got my butt whipped and owed him two movies.

STAR TREK went on to be a surprise hit for me. Every once in a while a film will do this. I go in with next to no expectations, and I leave being completely shocked at how much I enjoyed the film. It became my go to lazy Sunday movie. I have been anxiously waiting for the sequel once I knew all the major players, including director J.J. Abrams, would be back.

Here's the official synopsis:

In Summer 2013, pioneering director J.J. Abrams will deliver an explosive action thriller that takes Star Trek Into Darkness. When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.

We don't have a full length trailer yet, that will be released next week. And if you're lucky enough to check out THE HOBBIT in IMAX, you will be treated to a nine minute preview of the INTO THE DARKNESS. But for now, feast your eyes on the jam-packed teaser.

Director Shane Carruth is about to blow your flipping mind with UPSTREAM COLOR's new trailer

Alright, y'all we can all stop holding our breaths. Shane Carruth is finally coming out with another movie! The director is famous for having created one of the best time travel movies ever, PRIMER, nine years ago on a shoestring budget and then essentially dissapearing from the movie world. Out of nowhere (and thanks to Apple via BAD) comes a new trailer and a new poster for his upcoming movie, UPSTREAM COLOR. Check it out after the break.

LINCOLN Review

LINCOLN

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Written by: Tony Kushner and Doris Kearn Goodwin

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David  Strathairn, Tommy Lee Jones, John Hawkes, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Synopsis: Oh, you know, just the story one of the most important pieces of legislation in this nation's history. No big deal.