Most Enjoyed / Fave Films of 2012

Hey Moxie Moxie Readers, Listeners and Watchers!

Long time no post, eh?

It's the time of year that I usually am furiously listing, categorizing and re-iterating the films I've seen, the ones I've loved or made a huge impression on me plus reminisce of fave festivals experiences, surprizes and disappointments. In other words, it's the time of year where I think about My Year in Film. But this year was very different for me. For the first time ever I took a break from the site and that was not intended to last very long, but it rolled into my current indeterminate hiatus (for health reasons) which feels like it's lasted forever, and in such I've missed months out of year year when it comes to film. It makes me very sad that I haven't been around here and also haven't been able to attend festivals in the last half of the year, it's not only challenging and it also feels really *weird* not to be here.

That being said, I couldn't let the year go by without sharing my faves / most enjoyed films of the year. And in true Movie Moxie fashion I've kept up my totally not-on-purpose tradition of changing how I do the list (See best/most enjoyed list of 2011, Perfect list of 2010, Faves Films of 2009, Faves Films of 2008, Faves Films of 2007 and Faves Films of 2006). Sigh. I love consistency, but this process keeps changing it and I just have to go with it.

I don't know what's in store for the for the site, but I'm sharing my film journeys right now over on my YouTube channel and I do have some fun things planned for the new year. Please swing on by and say Hi or keep in touch over at Facebook as that's where I can be found most these days.

I hope 2012 was good to you, and that you saw many awesome films and had many wonderful film experiences.

Take care,
Shannon

Shannon the Movie Moxie's Faves/Best/Most Enjoyed Films of 2012

Click through for review (if I reviewed it!)

Special Mention to Awesome 2012 Releases Seen Prior to 2012:


Honourable Mentions for 2012 Releases:


Faves/Best/Most Enjoyed Films of 2012 (chronological viewing order):







Left: Safety Not Guaranteed

If you are trying to find me these days, subscribe to my YouTube channel, keep in touch over at Facebook or check out my personal blog.  Have a Happy New Year Everyone!

Gone Fishing!

Hey Everyone!

I'm taking a break. I've never done this before, but after 5 solid years on this site and 1040 reviews I've decided I'm due. Likely well overdue. So it's time to relax. I'm not sure if I'll actually end up fishing per se, but you never know :)

We can still connect in other places. Find me on Facebook or Twitter, or check out Under Our Willow Tree... The Ridlers Drinking Tea, a collective photo blog with my sisters Suzie & Jamie. And for all the paranormal TV fans out there you can listen to Hexed: Sisterhood of the Supernatural Podcast.

Take care!
Shannon

P.S. For the Book to Film Clubbers, we are reading Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie this month - Enjoy!

The Man with the Golden Gun - Bondathon Film 9

Time to check in on our ninth film of the Bondathon: The Man with the Golden Gun

Mentioned in this vlog:

• The Man with the Golden Gun stars Roger Moore as James Bond and is directed by Guy Hamilton
• See the original Bondathon post with schedule and film listing, and my introductory vlog about the Bondathon.
• See my vlogs for previous films in the Bondathon with Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Diamonds are Forever and Live or Let Die
• You can also hear my Bondathon reviews as a part of the Movie Moxie Podcast

Up Next for the Bondathon: The Spy Who Loved Me *

* I am going to take a hiatus for a week but will be back in 2 weeks for more.

Mirror Mirror (2012) DVD/BluRay Combo Review

DVD/BluRay review of Tarsem's interpretation of the Snow White fable in Mirror Mirror starring Julia Roberts and Lily Collins


Image Courtesy Alliance Films
Legal Line © 2011 Relativity Media. All Rights Reserved. © 2012 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Distributed exclusively in Canada by Alliance Films. All Rights Reserved. Licensed for private home exhibition only. All other Rights Reserved.

Dir: Tarsem Singh (Immortals, The Fall, The Cell)
Cast: Lily Collins, Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer, Nathan Lane, Mark Povinelli, Jordan Prentice, Joe Gnoffo, Danny Woodburn, Sebastian Saraceno, Martin Klebba, Ronald Lee Clark, Sean Bean
USA, 2012

Reason to see: I've been a fan of Tarsem Singh since The Cell and couldn't resist him diving into the world of fables

I was quite looking forward to Mirror Mirror as we don't get that many fables and this one not has women in the forefront with the youthful Snow White (played by Lily Collins) and The Queen (played by Julia Roberts). The film stays pretty close to the story in terms of The Queen being interesting in staying the fairest one of them all, and having Snow White herself be pretty resourceful although in ways that do stretch the branches of to some new places of the forest. With both The Queen and Snow White vying for the same Prince, Mirror Mirror leads us somewhere that feels a bit strange. The Queen wants to retain her power and resources, and Snow White seems to be falling for the first time but oddly I found that there wasn't much chemistry going on between the characters. Lively quipping and cute interactions, sure, but chemistry? Not so much. And fair warning for Sean Bean fans, even though he's pretty highly billed on the film he is actually not in it very much.

I did quite enjoy the story and lives of the dwarves played by Mark Povinelli, Jordan Prentice, Joe Gnoffo, Danny Woodburn, Sebastian Saraceno, Martin Klebba and Ronald Lee Clark; who show one of the many after effects of The Queen's reign of the land which leaves them as outlaws. They bring an interesting look at the outsider looking in perspective, of which Snow White is also in a similar boat, making them unconventional friends with a similar yet different goal.

I was captivated by the films lively colours, fabulous art direction and a huge array of costumes. In true Tarsem fashion the world explodes on the screen using the power of extremes in volume and colours bringing everything to life. It feels like a storybook of beautiful imagination and is vivid and alive. I thought it was quite interesting to have The Queen live in a world so bright and full of zest, but that brings into play that a lot of the film is filled with humour. That was one thing I wasn't expecting as much, fable and humour together which give it a more kid-friendly feel on paper, although they still deal with a fair amount of harshness of deceptions, plots against peoples lives as well as the crazy zany adventures in the forest.

Overall I thought it was interesting to mix fable with comedy but I'm wasn't always pleased with the result which often lead to silly fun, but not quite with the punch I felt the story deserved. I did enjoy some of the themes in the film such as injustice with the dwarves, but the primary story of Snow White vs The Queen felt a little soft and surprizing that it was more about getting the guy than living their own lives. Although I did love the art direction and costumes, I was hoping with a little mystery with the whimsy in Mirror Mirror; but as a family friendly film I think there is a lot to enjoy.

Extras

• DVD Extras include: Looking Through the Mirror, Prince and Puppies and Theatrical Trailer
• BluRay Extras include: Deleted Scenes, I Believe I Can Dance & Mirror Mirror Storybook
• Plus: the Mirror Mirror DVD/BluRay combo also comes with Digital Copy and Limited Edition Colouring Book

Mirror Mirror is available on DVD as of June 26, 2012. Check it out over at Amazon.ca & Amazon.com

Shannon's Overall View:
I enjoyed it, but I wanted to loved it
I'd watch it again
I'd recommend it as light fantasy or to whimsical fable fans who enjoy a dash of light comedy

Return to Film Reviews or see more DVD Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2012

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie: July 2012 Book to Film Club Reading

Happy July! With the turning of the month it's time to look at our July 2012 reading selection:

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

I know very little about this one other than it's got both historical elements and magical realism, and spans the time from when India gained independence from England. I'm quite curious about it and also really excited as it will be our first film adaptation that's directed by a woman. I'm a little surprized that took over a year but we keep covering more ground each month with the Book to Film Club.

The film version of Midnight's Children is going to be adapted by Salman Rushdie himself and will be directed by Deepa Mehta (Earth, Water, Fire, Bollywood/Hollywood), and will star Satya Bhabha, Shahana Goswami, Rajat Kapoor and Shabana Azmi.

The film Midnight's Children is scheduled to be released October 26, 2012.

Join the Movie Moxie Book to Film Club at any time. For title announcements, Book to Film Club news and monthly selections you can sign up for email updates here.

Perks of Being a Wallflower: June Reading Wrap Up

June Reading Wrap Up: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I was really impressed with this book, I loved the stream of consciousness rhythm to the writing and the fact that it's in the format of letters. It's certainly one of the more contemporary choices of the Book to Film Club being set int the 90's and set in high school. I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did! What did you think of the book? I would love to hear your take on it.

Here are some things to ponder on the reading experience:

• Did you enjoy reading it?
• Was it what you were expecting?
• What did you know about the book before reading it?
• What did you think of the style and tone?
• Did you enjoy the recent time period?
  
• What did you take away from reading the book?
• Is there anything you would change about the book?
• Who would you recommend the book to?
• Did you feel about the characters & their challenges?

About the upcoming film adaptation:

• How do you feel about the casting of the film?
• What tone do you think they'll take?
  
• What do you hope to be the focus of the film?
• What do you think is essential to keep from the book in the film?
• What do you think they can trim away from the book to the film?
• What do you think the challenges of the adaptation may be?
• Do you have any hesitations on the adaptation?
• What are you most looking forward to about the film adaptation?

If this was a re-read:

• How did reading it this time compare with your previous time reading it?
• Did you notice anything different this time round?
• Did your interest and focus stay on the same characters and moments, or shift?

Film Adaptation
The film version is scripted and adapted by the author Stephen Chobosky and stars Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief), Emma Watson (Harry Potter series), Ezra Miller (City Island), Nina Dobrev ('The Vampire Diaries') and Paul Rudd (I Love You, Man).

The film The Perks of Being a Wallflower is scheduled to be released Sept 21, 2012.

Join the Movie Moxie Book to Film Club at any time. For ook to Film Club news and monthly selections you can sign up for email updates here. Our final three books and entire year schedule have been announced: see the details here.

Our July Selection is: Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

Shannon's Take on The Perks of Being a Wallflower:

Film Reviews - Cuba

Juan of the Dead / Juan de los Muertos *

*indicates co-production

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