J's Favourite Movies Of 2012

I don't get to the movies as much as I should. Netflix and iTunes makes it way to easy to sit at home and wait for the movies to come to me. As a result, there were a number of flicks this year that I missed that I'm sure I will love.

That said, I did see a ton of flicks this year that I thought were awesome. The caveat being that I tend to like really stupid movies. Stupid, awesome movies.

Anyways, here's 10 flicks that I liked this year. Plus another one... just because.

Argo

Ben Affleck is one good ass movie making motherfucker.

I liked Gone Baby Gone and The Town, but he really outdid himself on this shit. Argo was tense, darkly funny and thoroughly enjoyable all the way through. It also includes my favorite line of the whole year (the thing about exfil operations being like abortions).

Yeah, it took a bit of a shit on historical accuracy. I don’t care though.









The Dark Knight Rises

What else honestly needs to be said about this flick?

I just feel bad for whatever poor bastard they dig up to make the next batch of Batman movies.

Also: I still think Bruce Wayne died.

Ted

I generally don’t get the mountains of praise and money that get thrown at Seth MacFarland. I guess Family Guy has it moments, but that’s as far as I’m willing to go on that one. For some reason though, I thought Ted worked astonishingly well.

I think this flick did a good job of using its ridiculous premise to tell a pretty simple story about a dude whose adult life is crippled by his stubborn refusal to grow up and move on.

Shit was legitimately funny, too.

The Avengers

I honestly have no idea if this was better or worse than Dark Knight Rises. It’s kind of a pointless argument. In the end, I had more fun with Avengers.

The biggest thing, to me, about this movie was that Joss Whedon finally figured out how to use the Hulk. If anyone was gonna crack that one, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised it was him.

21 Jump Street

Not the movie I was expecting at all. This shit was awesome because it was completely aware of how dumb the entire premise was… and how dumb it was to be making a 21 Jump Street movie in 2012… and acted accordingly.

Plus, Ice Cube plays Ice Cube better than anyone. But skinny Jonah Hill kinda weirds me out.

“Stop bothering Korean Jesus! He’s busy. With Korean shit!”

Total Recall

My expectations for this movie were so low that as long as everything was more or less in focus, I was gonna be satisfied.

While the resulting movie was in no way the stuff of legends and, frankly, I don’t think anyone will remember it in 6 months, as far as eye candy goes, this thing was tough to top. I really dug the look of the world, I liked the robots and Kate Beckinsale is almost impossibly good looking.

Looper

This flick reminded me of Inception in the sense that it took a fairly left field concept and presented it in a way that it never got overly confusing. It could have been a pretty convoluted mess, and instead was an enjoyable and easy to follow story about redemption.

I didn’t Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a young Bruce Willis, though. He just looked like Joe Rogans little brother to me.

The Amazing Spider Man

Full disclosure: I really didn’t like the Sam Raimi Spider Man movies. Except for the third one, which I felt personally insulted by. To this day I’m not convinced there’s ever a good reason to put Toby McGuire in a movie. Also: Kirsten Dunst sucks.

So, maybe this is really a nod for “most improved franchise.” All I can say for sure, that in a lot of ways, this was the take on Spider Man that I wanted from the beginning. I actually bought Peter Parker as an awkward high school student in this one. Besides which, Emma Stone improves everything she shows up in by at least 50%. That's just mathematically true.

Cabin In The Woods

My favourite thing about Joss Whedon is this: No matter how outlandish the story he wants to tell is, he’s really good about getting there honestly. I can’t think of a single time I’ve been watching project with his name on it where I felt like shit was coming out of left field. Even on Buffy, he always earned every crazy thing he wanted to put in… Like “The Initiative,” remember that shit?!

Anyways, that holds true here as well. Yeah, the whole thing is insane, but at no point does it feel confusing or dishonest. The big twist (if you want to call it that) is set up from the very beginning. And when the climax comes the whole thing has a kind of internal logic that tons of lesser movies in the genre lack.

Plus, when those elevators open up? I haven’t giggled with glee like that in years.

Probably my favorite thing Joss Whedon put his name to all year. Think about that.

The Grey

Liam Neeson is a wolf punching motherfucker. With any other actor in that role, I don’t think it would have worked. I really don’t see that anorexic from Twilight punching wolves.

I’ve always imagined that Liam Neeson was gonna be punching wolves anyways and he figured this movie was a good way to get paid for doing what he loves.

Token Documentary!

Bones Brigade: An Autobiography

Stacy Peralta makes damn fine documentaries.

As much as I loved Dogtown & Z-Boys though, it was a little before time. This thing is much more my speed, I sincerely hope the next skateboard movie he makes covers the late 90's-mid 2000's. "Pro Skater," The X-Games it could be awesome.

Also: Rodney Mullen is fucking special effect. None of that shit should be physically possible.

Lost Tribe Podcast - Ep. 26: Ottawa is full of Canadians

Lost Tribe Podcast

 

Episode 26: Ottawa is full of Canadians

In this episode the boys discuss old hardcore bands that still stand up, what goes on when creating those ridiculous, but ultimately fun and helpful, 'best of 2012' lists, and just how good rap was this year. Specifically, James explains why we should all be listening to Killer Mike. So, go listen to him. Georgia represent. Following music talk, the boys reminisce and discuss their love of our great nation's capital: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada! It could be vague nationalism, or just the recognition of a cool town, but the boys discuss the pros and cons of this particular locale. Finally, the boys delve into Star Trek and why the 80s sucked...or ruled...depending on who you believe.

Get it on iTunes or here: Lost Tribe Podcast

L.'s Top 10 LPs of 2012

L.'s Top 10 LPs of 2012

I've heard a mix of grumblings and praise about 2012 from various music sources, but you'll hear nothing but praise from all of us here at Lost Tribe. Not only did a bunch of new or quasi-new bands put out stellar releases, but a whole gaggle of veterans returned to remind us all why we hold them in such high regard in the first place. In fact, 2012 (and this site/podcast) helped remind me why I love music so much in the first place. So without further adieu, here is my list of the 10 best LP's of the year....in my opinion....in no particular order.

Burning Love – Rotten Thing to Say

The fact that this group isn't headlining any/all hardcore festivals and tours by now is mind-boggling to me. Their mix of hardcore, punk, and rock is both refreshing and reminiscent of the band members' past works. While I've loved everything they've put out thus far, I was especially impressed with their sophomore LP. It's got a flow and coherence to it that not many hardcore albums have these days, and “Karla”, “Pig City I”, and “Hateful Comforts” are immediate classics in my books.

Pick Your Side – This is How Democracy Works

Speaking of southern Ontario hardcore veterans forming new bands, Haymaker's Jeff Beckman teamed up with Fuck the Facts' Johnny Ibay to put together this hardcore/metal Frankenstein that have helped to satisfy my unending Haymaker-craving. Fortunately, this isn't just a mindless rehashing of what these musicians have done in the past, and is, instead, an interesting mix of genres that are held together with an unceasing barrage of hate and aggression. In other words, it's fucking amazing.

Black Breath – Sentenced to Life

How many people got re-excited about metal by this release? After listening, and then re-listening to this album I started digging through old Slayer, Black Sabbath, etc. albums to relive my headbanging days of old, and I was just as happy listening to Black Breath as I was hearing the classics. Black Breath doesn't try to do anything too fancy...no cross-over, no overtures, no symphonic back-ups, just blistering riffs and galloping beats. This album made me headbang and thrash more than anything else put out this year.

Homewrecker – Worms and Dirt

Was anyone not blown away by these guys? As I said in my review, I had slept on this band's 7”'s, so I had no expectations when I first put it on, but I was beyond pleasantly surprised. What caught my attention was the fact that “Wreck”/”Worms and Dirt” is the best intro-into-first-song combo of the year, and the audio clip used in “Wreck” might be my favourite mix of sample/music that I've ever heard....and I played in hardcore bands in the 90s/early-2000s! Oh ya, the rest of the album kicks ass too!

Mindset – Leave No Doubt

Do you love youth crew hardcore? No, neither do I. Then why is this album on the list? Because it's good...really good. The first time I put this album on I listened to it all the way through 3 times in a row. I can't fully explain why this album is so far superior to all other youth crew releases of the last few years, but it is, and if you haven't heard it yet you are most definitely fucking up.

Column of Heaven – Mission From God

Canada doesn't often make a mark on the metal world like this these days, but Column of Heaven proves that you shouldn't count the Canucks out yet. Continuing The Endless Blockades' tradition of putting out uncompromising but well-thought-out metal, Column of Heaven should be on every metalhead's radar if they aren't already.

Gaslight Anthem – Handwritten

I think people might've expected Brian Fallon and Co. to settle down or peter out now that they've garnered significant mainstream success, but this album easily puts any naysayers in their place. The song writing is sharper, the hooks are catchier, and the rawness/rough edges that everyone loves about Fallon's lyrics are still abundantly present. My one complaint is that “Blue Dahlia” is the best song is on the album and it's not technically on the album (although it is on the Deluxe Edition)...so if you haven't picked up those extra tracks I suggest you do as soon as possible.

Rise and Fall – Faith

Because this album came out so early in the year I fear that many reviewers will inadvertently leave these Belgians off their list. Well, if that was the case, then shame on them! Rise and Fall easily please even the most ardent d-beat, hardcore, or metal fans with expertly written songs and crushing riffs. This band is able to effortlessly pull off the difficult mix of creating unrelenting music that never seems to get boring or stale. Most bands either hammer home the one thing they are good at until the sound of it makes you want to puke, or they try and get so experimental that you forget that you are listening to an actual song, but Rise and Fall always keeps the right balance of consistent and interesting.

Pig Destroyer – Book Burner

What should I say about Pig Destroyer that I haven't already said in my review, or that their unparallelled career full of metallic greatness doesn't already say? Everyone expected the best from this band, and unsurprisingly they delivered in spades. They moved away from the experimental elements of Phantom Limb while keeping all the intensity and excitement that their fans have come to expect. Listen to Book Burner and revel in its consistent glory...or listen to it as a metal musician and realize that you probably won't ever be as good as this band is on its worst day.

Propagandhi – Failed States

Now, since I didn't make this a numbered list, so I don't know if I am able to have a number one album, but if I were to say that there was an album of the year then this would undoubtedly be it. The melodies are haunting, the riffs are crushing, the technicality is mind-boggling, and the lyrics are everything that “punk” should be. I'll keep this written handjob short, but I am truly glad that this band exists and that they keep putting out such face-ripping classics.

Podcast: Lost Tribe Podcast - Ep. 25: The NRA is Wrong-Headed

Lost Tribe Podcast

 

Episode 25: The NRA is Wrong-Headed

In the wake of the Sandy Hook shootings (amongst almost half of a ozen in recent weeks) the boys spend this episode trying to wrap their heads around this tragedy.  Putting all cynacism and too-cool-to-mourn attitudes away, this episode boils down to a bunch of Canadians trying to figure out the culture, politics, and legalities that led to such an event.

Get the episode on iTunes or here.