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Django Unchained 2012
Contains not one, but two, of the most exemplary uses of the word "cheeky" in the history of cinema.
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Django Unchained 2012
As close as adult-oriented films get to event cinema. A juicy historical revenge fantasy.
My tweet thoughts:
Loved every minute of Django Unchained, precisely because of how full-on and unrestrained it was. What QT likes, he does. And here it works.
Nods and winks don't harm it. Django is structurally sound. Any of the ace cameos and fun interludes are icing on an already well made cake.
I can see where the logical cut point was but I was glas that it didn't. Didn't feel it drag.
I love that Broomhilda's surname offers a suggestion of where her lineage potentially ends up. These touches are wonderful.
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The Avengers 2012
Still holding up. Saw 2D version this time. Definitely more enjoyable in 3D.
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The Avengers 2012
More than holds up to a second viewing.
Had completely forgotten about "Reindeer Games" and "Rock Of Ages".
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The Avengers 2012
Instant reaction tweets in lieu of a full review:
O. M. F. G. People, you are gonna piss your pants when you watch THE AVENGERS. Believe the hype. Can not imagine how it could be bettered.
Absolutely every constituent element gets its chance to shine. No-one is wasted. I'm still delirious. It just crackles with energy.
For anyone who felt the lead-up films lacked sufficient third acts, consider them acts one and two. Let this be the umbrella third act.…
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The Dark Knight Rises 2012
Third time cements how good it actually is. Elements fall into place a lot better.
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The Dark Knight Rises 2012
The good bits are better and the bad bits are worse a second time.
It's still stunning stuff though. Most of the flaws I can find are relatively cosmetic and can mostly be explained away.
Broader in scope than the first two, it keeps it admirably reined-in (relatively speaking) in spite of an excess of characters.
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The Dark Knight Rises 2012
I won't say too much before I've rewatched but this is a hugely satisfying end to the trilogy. It's not problem-free but there's so much about it that is both admirable and exhilarating that the problems are minimal.
Anne Hathaway lights up the screen every time she appears. It's a fantastic take on Catwoman. Actually, there's barely a performance out of place.
The first half, while messy, is engaging but it's in the latter half that it really comes into…
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Skyfall 2012
My de facto review made up of tweets before I write something fuller:
Aside from minor gripes that was bloody excellent. The Bond film we've always been promised but rarely received.So refreshing to have no clue about where it was headed. Javier Bardem was a delightfully malevolent presence and fleshed out villain.
He was a very satisfying villain indeed. Ticked every box on the Bond villain checklist and then some.
Roger Deakins' cinematography was astounding. Craig on great form…
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Argo 2012
From the use of a grainy, period Warner Brothers logo onwards, this strives to feel like a throwback 70s piece; a dazzling headlong shove that launches you into the world of CIA operations. It achieves a fine balance of humourous romp and political thriller and contains some of the tensest scenes in any film this year.
Every performance adds something to the mix but Scoot McNairy and Ben Affleck himself stand out with downbeat turns. Alongside John Goodman and Alan…
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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 2012
A second viewing highlights the bits that drag (the Rivendell/Galadriel stuff, especially) but also the little touches that make it really enjoyable (the Goblin messenger on his wee rope). The nuance in Martin Freeman's performance is a joy.
For the third act it segues from set piece to set piece at a rollicking pace. The sheer scale of it as only the first third of the story is still a bit of a problem but there's much to admire.
On…
