In 2012, I have watched about 106 movies all together and sorting it into the top 20 is not an easy job. While I only manage to review a handful of those physically on this site, I have rated those missed out, offline. Continuing the tradition of ushering into a new year for the fifth time in a row, Green Tea Movie will be looking back at the year’s movies as a whole. On the last part of the three-part year-end feature, we will be looking back at the year’s top honours. Today, I present to you the first part in the list of ten best-reviewed movies of the year for which you can read after the jump. The recap for the best of 2011 for which you can read all about at this link and for the recap of position 20 to 11, click here instead.
NOTE: (1) The list is highly-based on Green Tea Movie's opinion and does not reflect external or general consensus. (2) The list covers movies watched from 31 December 2011 till 30 December 2012. Some movies released in 2011 may have been included, for example The Darkest Hour which was watched on 1 January 2012. (3) The scores are based on several criteria including Green-Tea-O-Meter and rating for Plot.
The Dark Knight Rises does not reach the height of its predecessor but is still a potent movie that is smartly written, well-directed and well-acted. It also offers an epic and satisfying closing to one of the most beloved trilogy of all time with high ambition and visionary despite the bloated and perplexing multilayer story.
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 87.59%
REVIEW: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2012/07/movie-review-dark-knight-rises.html
What is so good about Rian Johnson's Looper is that it does not need to do so much to impress me. Cruising on the 118 minutes of mind-bending, smart, thrilling,
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 87.85%
REVIEW: Not Reviewed Specifically
‘Drive’ is an excellent action movie that brings in smart plot with lack of ridiculous action fare, smart plot with highly stylish-ridden movie and so it also happens to be one of the most under-rated movie of the year. [Watched on February 2, 2012]
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 89.78%
REVIEW: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2012/01/oscar-movie-review-drive.html
This Sam Mendes-directed movie is a great addition into the franchise that offers a gritty outlook, complex-yet-accessible plot, stunning actions mixed with some well-drafted choreography, crispy acting performances and a true jolting experience will truly suit the modern and traditional Bond viewers.
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 90.78%
REVIEW: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2012/11/movie-review-skyfall.html
‘The Artist’ does a great job in entertaining the audiences with its light and heart-warming story that is pretty much surprisingly lovable. Jean Dujardin portrays the most impossible – selling an emotional yet quirky expressive character to a movie that does not need the full dialog to tells what it all matters. [Watched on February 7, 2012 and during French Film Festival in KL]
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 92.35%
REVIEW: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2012/02/oscar-movie-review-artist.html
Martin Scorsese presents to the world his oddest gift ever - a heart warming and extravagant fantasy story about the pure innocence and majestic tribute to the love of cinematic experiences. [Watched on February 17, 2012]
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 92.57%
REVIEW: Not Reviewed
comes out as a true winner – no doubt it is already been hailed as one of the best movies of the year. What is more impressive is that it comes with a perfect combination of marvellous styles and substances in an amazing plot, doses of sarcastic humour that are very pleasing, characterizations that maintain the interactions through the super ego first and top notch actions in a giant canvas of Manhattan.
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 93.54%
REVIEW: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2012/04/movie-review-marvels-avengers.html
One word - amazing. Another one word - heartwarming. And another one word - trustworthy. Lastly, a few words - Possibly one of the best movie with effective dialogue, performance and colour tone.
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 94.63%
REVIEW: Not Reviewed
Argo is an excellent thriller with amazing combination of dark comedy, well-built plot and frantically nail-biting scenes that transcend above the expectation. Argo fuck yourself!
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 94.98%
REVIEW: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2012/12/movie-review-argo.html
Life of Pi is a beautiful, spiritual, thoughtful and stunning film that explores the ordeal natures of religions, life and relationship from a different perspective with strong emotion, compelling narration and endearing visual effects all along. Ang Lee and David Magee for the winner!
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 95.46%
REVIEW: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2012/12/movie-review-life-of-pi.html
Some unlucky one which didn't make it into our top 20 but worth the mentioned here (Not in particular order):
1. Cloud Atlas
2. The Hunger Game
3. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
4. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
5. The Raid: Redemption
Please bear in mind that these movies have not been released yet as of 30 December 2012, as Green Tea Movie believes this could possibly in the top 20 for this list:
1. Zero Dark Thirty
2. Lincoln
3. Django unchained
4. Silver Lining Playbooks
5. Flight
(10) THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
The Dark Knight Rises does not reach the height of its predecessor but is still a potent movie that is smartly written, well-directed and well-acted. It also offers an epic and satisfying closing to one of the most beloved trilogy of all time with high ambition and visionary despite the bloated and perplexing multilayer story.
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 87.59%
REVIEW: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2012/07/movie-review-dark-knight-rises.html
(9) LOOPER
What is so good about Rian Johnson's Looper is that it does not need to do so much to impress me. Cruising on the 118 minutes of mind-bending, smart, thrilling,
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 87.85%
REVIEW: Not Reviewed Specifically
(8) DRIVE
‘Drive’ is an excellent action movie that brings in smart plot with lack of ridiculous action fare, smart plot with highly stylish-ridden movie and so it also happens to be one of the most under-rated movie of the year. [Watched on February 2, 2012]
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 89.78%
REVIEW: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2012/01/oscar-movie-review-drive.html
(7) SKYFALL
This Sam Mendes-directed movie is a great addition into the franchise that offers a gritty outlook, complex-yet-accessible plot, stunning actions mixed with some well-drafted choreography, crispy acting performances and a true jolting experience will truly suit the modern and traditional Bond viewers.
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 90.78%
REVIEW: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2012/11/movie-review-skyfall.html
(6) THE ARTIST
‘The Artist’ does a great job in entertaining the audiences with its light and heart-warming story that is pretty much surprisingly lovable. Jean Dujardin portrays the most impossible – selling an emotional yet quirky expressive character to a movie that does not need the full dialog to tells what it all matters. [Watched on February 7, 2012 and during French Film Festival in KL]
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 92.35%
REVIEW: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2012/02/oscar-movie-review-artist.html
(5) HUGO
Martin Scorsese presents to the world his oddest gift ever - a heart warming and extravagant fantasy story about the pure innocence and majestic tribute to the love of cinematic experiences. [Watched on February 17, 2012]
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 92.57%
REVIEW: Not Reviewed
(4) MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS
comes out as a true winner – no doubt it is already been hailed as one of the best movies of the year. What is more impressive is that it comes with a perfect combination of marvellous styles and substances in an amazing plot, doses of sarcastic humour that are very pleasing, characterizations that maintain the interactions through the super ego first and top notch actions in a giant canvas of Manhattan.
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 93.54%
REVIEW: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2012/04/movie-review-marvels-avengers.html
(3) MOONRISE KINGDOM
One word - amazing. Another one word - heartwarming. And another one word - trustworthy. Lastly, a few words - Possibly one of the best movie with effective dialogue, performance and colour tone.
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 94.63%
REVIEW: Not Reviewed
(2) ARGO
Argo is an excellent thriller with amazing combination of dark comedy, well-built plot and frantically nail-biting scenes that transcend above the expectation. Argo fuck yourself!
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 94.98%
REVIEW: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2012/12/movie-review-argo.html
(1) LIFE OF PI
Life of Pi is a beautiful, spiritual, thoughtful and stunning film that explores the ordeal natures of religions, life and relationship from a different perspective with strong emotion, compelling narration and endearing visual effects all along. Ang Lee and David Magee for the winner!
GREEN TEA MOVIE SCORE: 95.46%
REVIEW: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2012/12/movie-review-life-of-pi.html
Some unlucky one which didn't make it into our top 20 but worth the mentioned here (Not in particular order):
1. Cloud Atlas
2. The Hunger Game
3. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
4. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
5. The Raid: Redemption
Please bear in mind that these movies have not been released yet as of 30 December 2012, as Green Tea Movie believes this could possibly in the top 20 for this list:
1. Zero Dark Thirty
2. Lincoln
3. Django unchained
4. Silver Lining Playbooks
5. Flight
