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Top Movies of 2011
Neoavatara ^ | December 26, 2011 | Neoavatara

Posted on 12/26/2011 5:33:29 PM PST by Neoavatara

That time of the year again. Frankly, I thought this was, at best, a mediocre year at the movies. A lot of movies that I had expectations for last year were letdowns. That said, there were certainly movies I enjoyed, and I hope you caught a few of them along the way. Please note that the links take you to my reviews of the movies, where available.

Honorable Mentions: 50/50, Another Earth, The Artist, Bridesmaids, Captain America, Cars 2, The Descendents, Drive, Green Lantern, The Help, Horrible Bosses, Midnight in Paris, Mission: Impossible, Ghost Protocol, Moneyball, The Muppets, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Rango, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Transformers Dark of the Moon, Thor, Tree of Life, Warrior

10. Drive

Ryan Gosling had a good year, as you can see with the movie just below this one…but Drive may be the movie that fans come back and watch in years ahead. An action filled movie that is becoming a cult classic, this is a movie most of you did not see…but should make sure you do.

9. Crazy, Stupid, Love

The best romantic comedy of the year. With an awesome and funny cast, and enough twists to keep you entertained, Steve Carell again shows that he is simply one of the funniest men around.

8. Hanna

Hanna was a movie that simply flew under the radar. I knew it did for me…I ended up watching it on DVD. That said, I have to say it was one of the more enjoyable movies of the year. Saoirse Ronan, who plays the title character, is a star in the making. And her portrayal of a young girl trained to be the ultimate killing machine, and the forces that formed the world she has grown up in, are fascinating.

7. Attack the Block

This low budget movie from England simply was the one of the most entertaining science fiction movies of 2011. The story about a group of ghetto dwelling delinquents fighting an alien invasion, with the assistance of the woman they mugged hours earlier, is pure joy.

6. X-Men: First Class

This was a movie that I was very unsure of a year ago. In my look forward from the end of 2011, I showed a lot of ambivalence. But the movie paid off. Probably the best of the X-Men movies…and that is saying quite a bit.

5. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

I was quite ambivalent about the making of this film. I am a huge fan of the original European version, starring Noomi Rapace. That said…Director David Fincher has done a masterful job translating Stieg Larsson’s book to the American screen. Rooney Mara does a fantastic job, and this film can hold its own with the original…which is high praise indeed.

4. Super 8

I loved this movie. I cannot tell you how much. I can tell you why though. I grew up in the late 70s, in Ohio, much like the characters involved. I had a group of friends that would do exactly what these characters did. And of course, there was always a girl. This movie just happened to touch me where it counts. I think many others felt the same way, for their own reasons.

3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

What a fantastic finish to one of the great movie series of all time. Individually, I would not call any of the movies in the Harry Potter franchise ‘classic’. In toto? Maybe. Warner Brothers, from start to finish, did a brilliant job putting together a cast, crew, directors, and ultimately, the support of author J.K. Rowling in what 1o years ago appeared like an almost impossible task.

The final movie, although somewhat a departure from the book, brought most of the feeling, anguish, heartbreak, and ultimate triumph necessary to conclude the Harry Potter saga.

2. Hugo

Hugo is a magnificent movie for children and adults. Martin Scorcese has possibly created one of his greatest works of art…which is saying something. The artistry is beautiful, and the story is perfect. This could become a classic in years to come.

1. War Horse

Steven Spielberg has been hit-or-miss for the better part of several decades now. When he bombs a film, he really bombs it (see: Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull). But when nails a film, it becomes a classic. War Horse is in the latter category. Based on the 1982 children’s novel by Michael Morpurgo, and later turned into a play, Spielberg demonstrates movie making at its best: blending the splendor of visual greatness, the epic scale of war, and the passion and emotions that pull at the heart strings. A masterpiece, and definitely in the running for Best Picture.


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: 2011; movies
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To: FoxPro

Gone with the Wind, Sound of Music, Wizard of Oz, etc....and your point?


21 posted on 12/26/2011 6:58:45 PM PST by gramho12
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To: Ted Grant
Secretariat came out in 2010. Great movie, though.
22 posted on 12/26/2011 6:59:01 PM PST by Hoodat (Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God. -Psalm 55:19-)
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To: gramho12; FoxPro
Gone with the Wind, Sound of Music, Wizard of Oz, etc....and your point?

These films had, in addition to interesting women, strong male roles. Also, the women were relating -- as women --within in male-dominated cultures. Not obnoxiously trying to be pseudo-men.

Methinks we need a few men around.

23 posted on 12/26/2011 7:05:22 PM PST by MoochPooch (I'm a compassionate cynic.)
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To: FoxPro
Have you ever noticed that there is somewhat of a correlation between great and enduring movies and the number of female parts in them.

What, you didn't think Columbiana wasn't an instant classic?

Yes that was sarcasm,

Sci-fi, Action/Adventure, Sword and Sandle, these genres have been totally ruined by the empowered fighting female cliche.

For some reason over & over again in every movie now there's no more Alpha males, instead we get the empowered fighting female!! Yep, that thin chick wearing tight leather and heals, who despite being only 89lbs can easily out perform and out fight her male counterparts.

That's why Hollywood is losing money, because once the "Wow! She is really hot, when is she going to be naked?" factor wears off, watching a 89lb waif beat up multiple 260+lbs guys gets pretty old pretty fast

24 posted on 12/26/2011 7:07:15 PM PST by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
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To: Hoodat

I know, I just mentioned it because the subject of horse movies came up.


25 posted on 12/26/2011 7:12:57 PM PST by Ted Grant
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To: Neoavatara

I have to disagree with half your top ten list, but everyone has a different taste and opinion.

Hugo and Drive were really great films.


26 posted on 12/26/2011 7:16:25 PM PST by moviefan8
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To: Jedidah
Went to see War Horse. It’s beautifully filmed, but unbelievable and sappy and much too long. To each his own.

My husband and I saw that with a friend tonight, and felt the same way. It certainly was a beautiful film, and had some wrenching scenes, but it was signature Steven Spielberg, i.e. there were the usual emotional signposts scattered throughout the film alerting you to a "moment".

27 posted on 12/26/2011 7:33:07 PM PST by Calliecat
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To: Neoavatara

Bridesmaids got honorable mention? For what, crap pile of the year?

We rented this through Netflix and turned it off before the end of the first acr. We were hoping that they had front loaded the adolescent vulgarity like they do in so many movies, but the excrement just kept flowing. The final straw was the main character’s mother casually discussing an acquaintance “bl**jobbing” to support himself.

That movie was written for 15-year-olds.


28 posted on 12/26/2011 9:01:29 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati)
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To: Jeff Chandler

Bookmark


29 posted on 12/26/2011 9:15:36 PM PST by Publius6961 (My world was lovely, until it was taken over by parasites.)
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To: Jedidah
War Horse... much too long.

I blame modern technology. In the old days, the editor had to carefully consider what to cut out, because they literally cut the parts out. With the advent of non-linear editing, they can fidget with a movie until they find a way to include every minute part of it. The result is that most movies are about a half hour too long. If find myself wondering why they left that dialog in, or why didn't they cut that scene out.

An example of a tightly edited movie is Romancing the Stone. The whole thing fits together like a puzzle. You may not care for the movie or the genre, but it was done right. If they made it today it would probably be 150 minutes long.

30 posted on 12/26/2011 9:20:45 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati)
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To: Disambiguator

Uh oh. Be ready for a strong drink afterward. A children’s literature aficionado dragged me to this. Everything swings, jumps, flies, and races around until you’re ready to scream. There’s no climax because it’s ALL climax.


31 posted on 12/26/2011 9:21:25 PM PST by firebrand
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To: Jeff Chandler

first acr = first act


32 posted on 12/26/2011 9:21:39 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati)
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To: Charles Henrickson

Tinker Tailor: If you haven’t read the book or seen the BBC version, you won’t know what’s happening except very vaguely. There’s plenty to enjoy without knowing exactly what’s going on, though. The early tools of the spy trade, Brit office “decor,” the character portrayal, and the acting, most of all, make it worthwhile. You can always read the book and then go see it again.


33 posted on 12/26/2011 9:25:30 PM PST by firebrand
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To: DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis

I’ve been reading Tintin for about the last 40 years, and my kids grew up with it, too.


34 posted on 12/26/2011 9:27:58 PM PST by Disambiguator
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To: firebrand
Everything swings, jumps, flies, and races around until you’re ready to scream.

Sounds like the Spiderman movies.

35 posted on 12/26/2011 9:32:30 PM PST by Disambiguator
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To: Jeff Chandler

Believe or not, a conservative friend recommended Bridesmaids to me. It opens to a scene of intercourse, and the vulgarity continues from there unabated.


36 posted on 12/26/2011 9:33:02 PM PST by firebrand
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To: kalee

Ping to self


37 posted on 12/26/2011 9:38:45 PM PST by kalee (The offenses we give, we write in the dust; Those we take, we engrave in marble. J Huett 1658)
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Comment #38 Removed by Moderator

For later


39 posted on 12/26/2011 9:42:36 PM PST by Semper911 (When you want to rob Peter to pay Paul, you'll always have the support of Paul.)
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To: Charles Henrickson

I’ve seen both Sherlock and Mission Impossible and both are great. In fact, some friends and I are going to see Sherlock again this afternoon.


40 posted on 12/26/2011 9:50:44 PM PST by Stonewall Jackson (Democrats: "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.")
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