DVDs of 2012

Abduction (PG-13) Action – Taylor Lautner, the shirtless wolfboy from the Twilight movies, evades assassins. From director John Singleton.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (R) Horror – It turns out that Southern Secessionists were actually the living dead and it was the job of the president to get rid of them. Stylish and silly; based on the popular novel.

Act of Valor (R) Action – Real Navy SEALs play supporting roles in a story of counter-terrorism and drug smuggling. With Roselyn Sanchez.

Adventures of Tin Tin (PG) Animation – Motion-capture  adaptation of the famous comic book is a long chase across the desert  and ocean that gets a bit tiresome. From Steven Spielberg.

Alvin & the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (G) Animation –  In their third feature, the Chipmunks are stranded on a desert island.  $130 million box office hit despite my strenuous objections.

The Amazing Spider-Man (PG-13) Sci-Fi Action – Andrew Garfield  and Emma Stone take over for Tobey Maquire and Kirsten Dunst in a  re-telling of Spidey’s origin. Terrific performances and special effects  can’t overcome the feeling  that we’ve just seen this.

American Reunion (R & unrated) Comedy – The American Pie guys and gals are back for their high school reunion.

Arbitrage (R) Drama – Crooked financier Richard Gere tries to unload his Ponzi-built empire before the truth of it is revealed. (Has been available on pay-per-view during its theatrical release.)

Arthur Christmas (PG) Animation – Santa’s underachieving son Arthur (voice of James McAvoy) comes to the rescue when things go bad on Christmas Eve. Very funny and charming, from the creators of Wallace and Grommit.

The Artist (PG-13) Comic drama – Oscar-winner for Best  Picture and Best Actor is a love letter to Hollywood in the days of  silent films. Jean Dujardin is the star who can’t make the transition to  sound.

The Avengers (PG-13) Fantasy action – Marvel  superheroes battle trans-dimensional invaders to save the earth. The  year’s biggest hit with Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo and  Scarlett Johansson.

Battleship(PG-13) Action – The summer’s first big-budget flop (though it did turn a profit) stars Liam Neeson as the Admiral who leads the forces of goodness and light against alien invaders.

Bernie (PG-13) True crime comedy – Jack Black is funeral director Bernie Tiede who befriends Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine), the richest and meanest woman in Carthage, Texas, before he shoots her. Even so, everyone says he’s a real sweetheart. With Matthew McConaughy. One of the year’s best.

Big Miracle (PG) Drama – Greenpeace volunteer Drew  Barrymore and small town reporter John Krasinski lead the rescue of a  family of whales trapped in Arctic ice. (Based on a true story.)

Born to be Wild (G) Documentary – Morgan Freeman  narrates the stories of orphaned baby orangutans and elephants and the  people who help them. A theatrical IMAX release.

The Bourne Legacy (PG-13) Action – Jeremy Renner takes over for Matt Damon as another agent in jeopardy in the fourth installment of the series.

Brave (PG) Animation – Pixar’s latest features Scottish princess Merida (voice of Kelly MacDonald) who clashes with her mother (Emma Thompson).

The Campaign(R) Comedy – Will Farrell and Zach Galifianakis  compete for a North Carolina House seat. Raunchy hilarity ensues. With  Dan Aykroyd. (Zach is the nephew of Nick Galifianakis who was a  representative from North Carolina until he ran for the Senate against  Jesse Helms in 1972 and lost.)

Chronicle (PG-13) SF – Three high school students discover that they have superpowers which can be misused.

Contagion (PG-13) Horror – Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon and Kate Winslet battle a deadly airborne virus.

Contraband (R) Crime drama – Smuggler Mark Wahlberg is  forced to go on one last job after his feckless brother-in-law crosses  drug lord Giovanni Ribisi. With Kate Beckinsale.

The Dark Knight Rises (PG-13) Action – Christian Bale and writer/director Christopher Nolan conclude their Batman trilogy with their best work. Astonishingly, Ann Hathaway is just fine as Catwoman.

Dark Shadows (PG-13) Horror comedy – Director Tim Burton and Johnny Depp take a new look at the famous supernatural soap opera of Barnabas Collins and family.

The Descendants (R) Drama – George Clooney deals with a  dying wife, contentious daughters, and a family inheritance. He’s  terrific. One of the year’s best.

The Devil Inside (R) Horror – Daughter suspects that her mom, who murdered three people, is possessed by youknowwho.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (PG) Comedy – Third installment of the successful adaptations of the popular books finds Grey (Zachary Gordon) stuck in summer vacation.

The Dictator(R and unrated) Comedy—Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat) is the titular world leader who finds himself working at a New York grocery with Anna Faris. Based on a novel by Saddam Hussein.

Drive (R) Drama – Ryan Gosling is a movie stunt driver  by day, getaway wheelman at night, who becomes involved with Carey  Mulligan and her young son.

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (PG-13) Horror – Creatures in the basement threaten a little girl.  Remake of a very frightening 1973 made-for-TV movie. With Katie Holmes.

Dream House  (PG-13) Horror – Daniel Craig and Rachel  Weisz move their family into a  country house where murders occurred.  Naomi Watts knows what’s what.

The Expendables 2 (R) Action – Stallone, Statham, Willis, Schwarzenegger, Li, Lundgren, Norris, Van Damme and the rest are back for more old-school shoot-‘em-up stuff. Exactly what you expect it to be.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (PG-13) Drama –  After his father is killed on 9/11, young Oskar (Thomas Horn) searches  for the meaning of a mysterious key that his dad left behind. Much more  involving and moving than it sounds. With Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullocl. Max  Von Sydow, Viola Davis, James Gandolfini and John Goodman.

50/50 (R) Comic drama – Seth Rogen helps best friend  Joseph Gordon-Levitt deal with his cancer diagnosis and treatment. Based  on fact.

The Five-Year Engagement (R)  Romantic comedy – It takes Jason Segel and Emily Blunt half a decade to  get to the altar. Box office disappointment from the makers of Forgetting Sarah Marshalland 40-Year-Old Virgin.

Footloose (PG-13) Musical – Remake of the 1984 Kevin Bacon film stars Kenny Wormald. Dennis Quaid takes over for John Lithgow.

George Harrison: Living in the Material World (not rated) Documentary – Martin Scorsese looks at the life and music of Beatle George Harrison. Exceptionally well done.

Get the Gringo (R) Action – Mel Gibson’s newest goes  straight to pay-per-view. He’s an American trying to get out of a  Mexican jail with the help of a kid.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (PG-13) Fantasy  action – Nic Cage is back as a professional daredevil who moonlights as  Satan’s errand boy with a flaming head, etc.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (R) Drama – Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig star in the American version of the international best-seller about sexual violence.

Good Deeds  (PG-13) Drama – Tyler Perry stars as a  well-meaning businessman who  gets into trouble with his fiancée  (Gabrielle Union) when he tries to  help struggling single mom Thandie  Newton.

The Grey (R) Drama – Liam Neeson and a crew of oil workers survive a plane crash in Alaska and find themselves hunted by wolves.

The Guard (R) Comic drama – FBI agent Don Cheadle goes to Ireland where he  partners with small-town cop Brendan Gleeson to work on a drug/murder  case. Formulaic but fun.

Happy Feet Two (PG) Animation – Mumbles’ (Elijah Wood) son discovers his own unique penguin talents.

Haywire (R) Action – Martial artist Gina Carano stars as spy who’s double-crossed by her employers and pursued by assassins.

Hop (PG) Animation – Russell Brand gives voice to E.B., a rabbit who wants to be a rock star instead of the Easter Bunny.

Hope Springs (PG-13) Comic drama – Meryl Streep persuades her reluctant hubby Tommy Lee Jones to accompany her to a couple’s retreat weekend with marriage therapist Steve Carrell.

Hugo(PG) Drama – In the 1920s, a boy (Asa  Butterfield) lives inside the walls of a Paris railroad station and  learns about the earlier days of movies. With Ben Kingsley and Chloe  Moritz. Directed by Martin Scorsese. Nominated for several Oscars. (Also  available in 3D)

The Hunger Games (PG-13) Sci Fi – In a dystopian future America, Jennifer Lawrence represents District 12 in a to-the-death competition. With Woody Harrelson and Stanley Tucci.

Ice Age: Continental Drift (PG) Animation – The 47th entry (or so it seems) in the series finds the voices of Ray Romano, John Leguizamo and Dennis Leary up to more prehistoric hijinks.

The Ides of March (R) Drama – Press secretary Ryan Gosling learns troubling things about his candidate George Clooney. Disappointing.

The Immortals (R) Fantasy – Mickey Rourke leads his  evil army against ancient Greece to overthrow the gods on Olympus. Young  Theseus (Henry Cavill) stands in the way.

In Time (PG-13) SF – In a world where each individual  has a set amount of time to live, Justin Timberlake learns that the  system is rigged for the rich.

The Iron Lady (PG-13) Biopic – Meryl Streep won another Oscar for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher. For my taste, there’s too much time spent with the star in old-age make-up and not enough about the real woman’s political education. (For comparative purposes, it’s not as entertaining as Oliver Stone’s 1995 Nixon.)

Iron Sky(R) Sci Fi comedy – In 2018, Nazis who have been hiding on the dark side of the moon invade America. Mash-up of Independence Day, Star Wars and Dr. Strangelove with impressive CGI effects.

J. Edgar (R) Biopic – Leonardo DiCaprio does a remarkable acting job as famous FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. Directed by Clint Eastwood.

Jack and Jill (PG) Comedy – Ad man Adam Sandler is  visited by his sister (Adam Sandler again) on Thanksgiving. (It makes my  stomach hurt just to type those words.)

John Carter (PG-13) Fantasy – The year’s first  mega-flop based on Edgar Rice Burrough’s novel about a Civil War  soldier (Taylor Kitsch) who is teleported to Mars where he fights giant  CGI beasties.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island  (PG) Family adventure – Dwayne Johnson leads a rescue mission to a  remote island with Josh Hutcherson and Vanessa Hudgens. Semi-sequel to  the 2008 Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Joyful Noise  (PG-13) Musical – Dueling divas Queen  Latifah and Dolly Parton want to  control the Divinity Church choir as  it competes in a national  competition. And they’ve got problems with  their kids and grandkids.

Killer Elite  (R) Action — Mercenary Jason Statham must rescue his ex-partner Robert  DeNiro from a rouge unit and save the world from disaster. (Not a remake of the Peckinpah film and said to be based on a true story.)

Lawless(R) Period adventure – In Prohibition-era Franklin County, Virginia, the Bondurant brothers (Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy and Jason Clark) run moonshine and battle a nasty dapper lawman (Guy Pearce). With a restrained Gary Oldman.Lockout (PG-13 and unrated) SF Action – In the near  future, disgraced agent Guy Pearce) must save the President’s daughter  when she’s caught up in a prison riot on a satellite.

Looper (R) Sci-Fi – In the near future Joseph Gordon-Levitt kills gangsters sent back from the far future until he finds that he’s assigned to get rid of his own older self, Bruce Willis. With Emily Blunt and Jeff Daniels.

The Lorax (PG) Animation – Danny DeVito gives voice to Dr. Seuss’s brave little environmentalist critter.

The Lucky One (PG-13) Drama – Veteran Zac Efron searches for a woman (Taylor Schilling) whose photograph he carried in the Iraq war.

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (PG) Animation – Alex the Lion (voice of Ben Stiller), Marty (Chris Rock), Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Melman (David Schwimmer) join a traveling circus. The Penguins return, too.

Madea’s Witness Protection (PG-13) Comedy – Banker Eugene Levy stumbles onto a mob scam and is sent by prosecutor Tyler Perry to live with his aunt Madea. With Denise Richards.

Magic Mike (R) Comic drama – Male strippers Channng Tatum and Alex Pettyfur work at Matthew McConaughey’s club, and the ladies love them all. Directed by Steven Soderbergh. With Olivia Munn.

Man on a Ledge (PG-13) Drama – Disgraced cop Sam  Worthington threatens to jump from a New York highrise while negotiator  Elizabeth Banks tries to talk him down and a heist is in progress.

Men in Black 3 (PG-13) SF – Agent J (Will Smith) goes back in time to meet Agent K’s (Tommy Lee Jones) younger self (Josh Brolin), and to save the world.

Mirror, Mirror (PG) Comic fantasy – Julia Roberts is  the Evil Queen who has it in for her step-daughter Snow White (Lily  Collins). Cue the dwarfs.

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (PG-13) Action –Tom Cruise dangles from an incredibly tall building and stuff blows up.

Moneyball (PG-13) Drama – Washed-up phenom Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) tries to  remake the Oakland A’s using unorthodox methods. With Jonah Hill. One of the year’s best, certain to get significant Oscar nominations.

Moonrise Kingdom (PG-13) Romantic comedy – Young would-be lovers Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward run away together upsetting their island community. From Wes Anderson. With Bruce Willis, Bill Murray and Frances McDormand. One of the spring’s sleeper hits.

The Muppets (GP) Musical comedy – Jason Segel and Amy  Adams help Kermit and the gang return to show business, despite evil  businessman Chris Cooper’s efforts to close their theater. Extremely  funny and entertaining.

My Week With Marilyn (R) Drama – While Marilyn Monroe  (Michelle Williams) is making a film with Lawrence Olivier (Kenneth  Branagh), a young man (Colin Clark) falls for her.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green (PG) Comedy – Young Tim (CJ Adams) becomes a sort of magical son to Cindy (Jennifer Garner) and Jim Green (Joel Edgerton).

One for the Money (PG-13) Comic mystery – Katherine Heigl is private detective Stephanie Plum who solves a murder in Trenton, NJ.

ParaNorman(PG) Animation – Comic version of The Sixth Sense. Norman (voice of Kodi Smit-McPhee) talks to dead people and it comes in handy when zombies are resurrected to fulfill a witch’s curse.

The Pirates! Band of Misfits (PG) Animation – The Wallace and Grommit gang turn their attention to the bounding main. Voices of Hugh Grant, Jeremy Piven, Morgan Freeman and Salma Hayek.

Pitch Perfect (PG-13) Musical – Newly arrived at school, Anna Kendrick is dragooned into a singing group and discovers the cutthroat world of college a cappella competition.

Premium Rush (PG-13) Action – New York bike messenger Joseph Gordon-Levitt picks up the wrong package and finds himself on the run in the streets of Manhattan.

Project X (R) Comedy –  “Found footage” low-budget raunch-fest features a no-name cast as teenagers having a wild party.

Prometheus(R) SF Horror – Prequel to Alien finds Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender go to
the planet where the first film began and find more nasty thingies. Complex and thoughtful with excellent performances.

Puss in Boots (PG) Animation – Antonio Banderas returns to explain how Puss came to be the heroic lover and outlaw. Not up to Shrek standards but not bad, either.

Rampart (R) Crime drama – Woody Harrelson is a tough cop in 1999 Los Angeles. Terrific performance.

The Raven(R) Horror – Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack) pursues a serial killer who’s acting out his stories. With Alice Eve and Brendan Gleeson.

Real Steel (PG-13) SF – In the near future, Hugh Jackman builds a robot boxer that contends for the championship.

The Red House (1947) Drama – Edward G. Robinson is at  his best as a middle-aged man who’s far too protective of his niece  (Allene Roberts). The cult favorite has been restored with a crisp  black-and-white image.

Red Tails (PG-13) War drama – Terrence Howard and Cuba  Gooding Jr. lead an ensemble cast portraying the Tuskegee airmen, black  pilots who flew P-51 Mustangs in the last days of the European campaign  in WWII.

Rock of Ages(PG-13 and R) Musical – Tom Cruise is a rock star who figures in the lives of two kids who meet on Sunset Strip during the crazy ‘80s.

The Rum Diary (R) Dramatic comedy – In the early ‘60s  journalist Johnny Depp moves to Puerto Rico for work and fun. Based on  an early Hunter S. Thompson novel.

Safe (R) Action – Washed up MMA  fighter Jason Statham comes to the aid of a 12-year-old Chinese girl  (Catherine Chan) who’s the target of Russian mobsters and corrupt New  York cops.

Safe House (R) Action drama – Ryan Reynolds is an  inexperienced CIA agent who has to help Denzel Washington, a fellow  agent who may have gone over to the other side.

Safety Not Guaranteed (R) Comedy – Seattle magazine reporters investigate the source of this ad: “WANTED: Someone to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. P.O. Box 91 Ocean View, WA. You’ll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before.” Low budget, limited release, charming.

Savages (R and un-rated) Drama – Drug dealers Aaron Johnson and Taylor Kitsch take it badly when their girlfriend Blake Lively is kidnapped by drug kinpin (queenpin?) Salma Hayek and her henchman Benicio Del Toro. DEA agent John Travolta is also involved.

Screaming in High Heels (not rated) Documentary — Michelle Bauer, Linnea Quigley and Brinke Stevens—queens of such ‘80s/’90s B-movies as Return of the Living Dead and Slumber Party Massacre—discuss their careers. (It’s also a nice little history of the early days of the home video revolution.)

Secret World of Arrietty (G) Animation – Japanese adaptation of The Borrowers series of children’s books.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (PG-13) Action –  Robert Downey is back as the world’s greatest consulting detective with  Dr. Watson (Jude Law) and Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris). With Noomi  Rapace.

The Sitter (R) Comedy – Jonah Hill is a babysitter who takes three kids on a night of adventures in New York City.

Snow White and the Huntsman (PG-13) Fantasy action –  Evil Queen Charlize Theron is out to get Kristen Stewart, the fairest in  the land. Lovingly directed by Rupert Saunders.

Take Shelter (R) Drama – Michael Shannon experiences  increasingly frightening visions and dreams that may foretell the future  or his unbalanced mental state.

Ted (R) Comedy – Mark Wahlberg has to deal with a foul-mouthed teddy bear (voice of director Seth McFarlane) that has accompanied him into adulthood. One of the year’s funniest.

That’s My Boy (R) Comedy – Ne’er-do-well dad Adam Sandler crashes son Andy Samberg’s wedding. Chaos ensues. With Leighton Meester, James Caan, Rex Ryan and Vanilla Ice.

The Thing (R) Horror/SF – Prequel to John Carpenter’s  1982 film, paleontologist Mary Elizabeth Winstead and her team discover a  shape-shifting creature in the Antarctic ice.

Think Like a Man (PG-13) Comedy – Four women use Steve Harvey’s self-help book to manipulate their men. The guys try to do the same.

This Means War (PG-13) Action comedy – CIA agents Tom Hardy and Chris Pine both fall for Reese Witherspoon.

A Thousand Words (PG-13) Comedy – Eddie Murphy’s latest misfire finds him as an agent who is cursed to die after he speaks 1,000 words.

The Three Musketeers (PG-13) Period action – Yet another version of the famous story, retold with GCI effects. From the makers of the Resident Evil franchise.

The Three Stooges (PG-13) Comedy – The Farrelly brothers direct an update of the famous comedy trio. With Jane Lynch and Sofia Vergara.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (R) Drama – Gary Oldman was  nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of George Smiley in this  thoughtful adaptation of John LeCarre’s famous spy novel.

Total Recall (PG-13 and un-rated) SF – Colin Farrell takes over for Arnold Schwarzenegger in a remake of Paul Verhoeven’s ultra-violent take on Philip K. Dick’s story of memory and identity.

Tower Heist (PG-13) Caper comedy – Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy lead a group of workers who plan to steal back their retirement funds which were stolen by swindler Alan Alda.

Trouble with the Curve (PG-13) Drama – Grumpy old baseball scout Clint Eastwood reluctantly calls on his daughter Amy Adams for help in checking out a phenom.

21 Jump Street (R) Action comedy –In a remake of the  TV series, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are misfit cops who go back to  high school. Raunchy and funny.

Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, pt.1 (PG-13) Horror – Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) have a baby vampire.

Underworld: Awakening (R) Horror fantasy –  Selene (Kate Beckinsale in her tight black leather outfit) finds that  humans have figured out the whole vampire vs. werewolf business and want  to get rid of both.

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (R) Comedy – The guys (Kal Penn and John Cho) must find a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve in New York City.

The Vow (PG-13) Drama –  Things are  tough for newlyweds Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum when a  car  accident gives her amnesia. Not another Nicholas Sparks adaptation   though it might have been.

Wanderlust (R) Comedy – New Yorkers Paul Rudd and Jennifer Anniston decide to leave the Big Apple for the simple life on a commune.

War Horse (PG-13) Drama – An Irish lad (Jeremy Irvine) and his thoroughbred fight in World War I. Multiple Oscar-nominee from Steven Spielberg.

We Bought a Zoo (PG) Drama – Widowed newspaper reporter Matt Damon resigns and buys a dilapidated animal park where he and his kids go to work. With Scarlett Johansson. Directed by Cameron Crowe.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting (PG-13) Comedy –  Couples deal with starting families. With Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks,  Anna Kendrick, Jennifer Lopez. (I haven’t seen it and cannot imagine  circumstances under which I would voluntarily.)

Woman in Black (PG-13) Horror – Daniel Radcliffe  (Harry Potter) is a lawyer who discovers strange things in an old house  as he settles a dead woman’s affairs.

Wrath of the Titans (PG-13) Fantasy action – Sam Worthington is back as Perseus who must fight more gigantic computer-generated effects.

Young Adult (R)  Comedy – Writer Charlize Theron  returns to her hometown and attempts to  rekindle an old romance with  Patrick Wilson, who’s married.

Books by Mike Mayo