Bullet Burgers: Top Movies of 2012, Part 1: The Dark Knight Rises, Looper, The Avengers

Today on Bullet Burgers we look at three of my favourite movies of 2012.

The Dark Knight Rises

• Similar to The Dark Knight, but where that is a 10, this is a 9.
• Unlike The Joker who just wants to explode all the things, Bane wants to take over the city and be in charge. Meanwhile Batman has been sidelined for several years and has to make a big return. Those who have read Nightfall and The Dark Knight Returns will see tons of familiar stuff in here.
• Like TDK, if you watch this at home, the aspect ratio switches back and forth, where scenes filmed with the IMAX camera are shown in 16:9 (Like your LCD TV), and the rest of it is in Anamorphic widescreen at 2.39:1 (Like most 35mm movies). And like TDK, I find it distracting - but I'm sure that some won't even notice.
• Physically, Tom Hardy virtually turned into Schwarzenegger for this role. Expect to see him speaking in a German accent more.
• Best thing: Anne Hathaway is fucking phenomenal as Selina Kyle. Is a lock for the Best Supporting Actress In Black Latex award.
• Worst thing: Bane's ADR voice. Not that it was unclear - I understood him just fine - but that it doesn't sound like it's coming from anywhere near his face. 
• If made in the 80s this would: Be Sam Raimi's Darkman.

Bullet Burgers: Netflix Canada, Part 2

DAMAGES

5 Seasons

Starring Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, Tate Donovan, Ted Danson

• Ellen takes a job at a law firm working for Cruella DeVil and absolutely everybody she meets has a hidden agenda. Murders ensue, some involving bullets.
• Each season is presented with a "current" timeline that is leading up to a certain mystery event; and a series of flash-forwards, which take place after said event, which slowly reveal what happened. Similar to what Lost did in its final season.
• Intentionally puts the focus on its best asset, the cast. There are almost no wide shots here. Glenn Close alone has two Emmy's and a Golden Globe for this show - three out of its five.
• I can't decide if the first season is actually the best one, or if I'm just not as impressed by more of the same show. These days  I'm late into the third season and I tend to watch it while playing PC games.
• After the first season: Ted Danson remains present but isn't a main player; Tim Olyphant shows up as Raylan Wes for a season; Tate Donovan (Argo) becomes one of my new favorite actors; and William Hurt does his best William Hurt impression - and it's all great.

Bullet Burgers: Netflix Canada, Part 1

Have Netflix and live in Canada? I'm sorry. Here are some shows you might enjoy. There are bullets.

LIFE 

2 Seasons

Starring Damian Lewis, Sarah Shahi, Adam Arkin, Brent Sexton, Donal Logue

• Charlie (Lewis) serves 12 years for murder, gets all zen in prison, then is exonerated and joins a procedural cop show. It's a great premise, but the story ark moves way too slowly.
• His partner Reese is one of the most interesting characters but since I haven't seen Shahi in anything else, it's hard to tell if she's going for enigmatic or is just plain wooden. 
• His boss (Logue), who enters later on in the season, is very likable but doesn't have much to do.
• Cool gimmick: Bodies are almost always found in unusual places or positions, and not decomposed.
• The writing is often sloppy. Adam Arkin is miscast as an idiot.
• Tried it after Homeland gave me a man-crush on Damian Lewis. Blew my mind when I found out he was actually British.