Top Ten must see movies for 2012

Darren Hallesy rates these movies as "must see" for 2012

THE HOBBIT

Lord of the Rings fans rejoice! After years of delay Peter Jackson’s vision of J.R.R. Tolkein’s prequel to the much-loved Ring trilogy will hit the screens on Boxing Day. The first of the two-part prequel sees a young Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman from The Office UK and Sherlock) reclaim the lost Dwarf kingdom of Erebor from the dragon Smaugh. Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen and Orlando Bloom all return...and don’t forget ‘My Precious’.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

By all reports the eight minute preview of the third of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy is a sight to behold, but without an IMAX cinema in Brisbane we’ll have to wait to winter to see the full movie. With Christian Bale as Batman, ‘Inception’s’ Tom Hardy as the villain Bane and the lovely Anne Hathaway in a Catwoman costume…what’s not to look forward to?

SKYFALL

After the fizzer that was Quantum of Solace, James Bond is back for the 23rd instalment of the longest running series in movie history, and Daniel Craig has stated that he is determined to return to the heights of ‘Casino Royale’. Helmed by director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road) and with a cast also including Judi Dench, Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes, the future of the Bond movies is on the line with this one but with Mendes directing the action, 007 should be in safe hands.

PROMETHEUS

Anyone who has seen the trailer online will be rejoicing that Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner) has returned to science fiction. Nobody really knows if this is an Alien prequel as rumoured, but the trailer does show a resemblance to the original Alien movie. Anyhoo, who cares? It’s Ridley Scott and he’s doing sci-fi again. Say no more. Starts Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender.

ROCK OF AGES

Based on the stage musical that recently came to Brisbane, and with a top notch cast including Tom Cruise, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin and Catherine Zeta Jones, this could be the movie to make the 80’s fun again, like many of us remembered. Expect big hair, leg warmers and lots of power ballads.

THE AVENGERS

A dream come true for comic book fans and lovers of the superhero universe. The Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow all team up to save the world (again) from the forces of evil. In 3D too no less. With all the ‘origin’ movies out the way, hopefully this one will be the action-fest that we’ve all been waiting for.

LES MISERABLES

The big screen adaptation of the long-running stage music, Aussies Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe will be showing off their musical talent, which hopefully will fare better than Pierce Brosnan’s in ‘Mamma Mia’. Under the direction of Tom Hooper (The Kings Speech), it should be an epic movie to match the spectacle of the French Revolution.

TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY

Based on the 1974 British spy classic by John le Carre, this is the political thriller that fans of the genre have waited a long time for. Starring Gary Oldman, John Hurt, Tom Hardy and Colin Firth, expect to hear references to Soviets, moles, and espionage thick enough to spread over a piece of toast.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

With Tobey Maguire still fresh in our memory, starting the Spiderman story all over again might seem a tad premature, but early reports suggest the movie has raised the bar. Starring Andrew Garfield as Spidey and Rhys Ifans as villain Dr Curt Connors aka The Lizard, expectations are high. With a Superman reboot also in production, we should probably get used to the idea.