To the Arctic does showcase moments of ebullient splendor that captured my attention. I just wanted more than recycled platitudes, information more dynamic and complex than what I could learn watching the National Geographic Channel or from an episode of PBS’ “Nature.”

The Cabin in the Woods is a winner. I can’t wait to watch it again, and I’m sure this will become an annual staple for re-watch every Halloween.

Kahn’s sophomore effort Detention has guts and it cheekily goes for gory glory, both traits I do not personally take for granted and ones I think audiences open to this sort of thing will eagerly want to explore.

Lockout isn’t even so bad it’s good, the final product an out of this world debacle that will undoubtedly go down as one of 2012’s worst motion pictures.

There just didn’t seem to be any point to bringing everyone back for this fourth go-around, American Reunion proof that sometimes going home again isn’t as good an idea as it’s so often purported to be.

Damsels in Distress isn’t for everyone. It’s quirky and obnoxious, every character speaking with a stilted directness that takes getting used to.

The Salt of Life may take some effort to get into but by the time the climax rolls around it becomes impossible to dislike, and I imagine on subsequent viewings this is the type of innately human journey that could grow on me to the point it becomes an essential one to take on a semi-regular basis.

Watching Bully isn’t easy.

Tarsem directs with confidence, and while Mirror Mirror isn’t the magical ride it maybe could have been to say I left the theatre with a spring to my step and feeling happily ever after was a real possibility wouldn’t be too far off the mark.