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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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1 posted on 12/26/2011 5:33:33 PM PST by Neoavatara
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To: Neoavatara

Went to see War Horse. It’s beautifully filmed, but unbelievable and sappy and much too long.

To each his own.


2 posted on 12/26/2011 5:43:50 PM PST by Jedidah
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To: Neoavatara

3 posted on 12/26/2011 5:48:44 PM PST by Hoodat (Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God. -Psalm 55:19-)
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To: Neoavatara

I’m going to see The Adventures of Tintin tomorrow.


4 posted on 12/26/2011 5:49:35 PM PST by Disambiguator
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To: Neoavatara

Somehow, I came across “Attack the Block”, and watched it with my kids. Some parts are a bit violent, but overall, I really enjoyed it. Not a great film, and it was british quirky in some ways, but an enjoyable film, worth the rental price.


5 posted on 12/26/2011 5:51:05 PM PST by Paradox (The rich SHOULD be paying more taxes, and they WOULD, if they could make more money.)
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To: Disambiguator
Just saw that today in 3d with my sisters. They are big Tintin fans and they loved it. The movie merges two of the books together (Crab with the Golden Claws and Red Rackham's Treasure) though and thus cuts out parts and adds in other parts to try to make the two books flow with each other. Over all though, it was pretty good. Lots of action scenes.

You a Tintin fan (or are familiar with the books)? Or going to see it just because?

6 posted on 12/26/2011 5:58:56 PM PST by DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis (Chag Chanukkah Sameach!)
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To: Neoavatara
There are six movies out now that I'm interested in seeing:

Sherlock Holmes
Mission: Impossible
Tin-Tin
Hugo
War Horse
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Don't know that I'll get to see them all on the big screen, but they all look interesting.

I rarely see movies, maybe two or three a year.

7 posted on 12/26/2011 6:09:44 PM PST by Charles Henrickson
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To: Neoavatara

Of those movies listed, I am only interested in seeing War Horse.

Movies were UUTER CRAP this year.

I wouldn’t really care at all if Hollywood ceased to exist at this point.


8 posted on 12/26/2011 6:17:44 PM PST by chris37 (Heartless.)
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To: Hoodat

9 posted on 12/26/2011 6:19:46 PM PST by RonDog
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To: Neoavatara

Have you ever noticed that there is somewhat of a correlation between great and enduring movies and the number of female parts in them.

Lawrence of Arabia
Saving Private Ryan
Schindlers List
Ben Hur

Very few females in these movies.


10 posted on 12/26/2011 6:23:26 PM PST by FoxPro
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To: Hoodat

You got it this was the best of the bunch seen it twice,got get a new copy of the book haven’t read it in years.


11 posted on 12/26/2011 6:25:16 PM PST by rodguy911 (FreeRepublic:Land of the Free because of the Brave--Sarah Palin 2012)
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To: Neoavatara

I’ll add Real Steel to that list. Really liked that movie.


12 posted on 12/26/2011 6:39:10 PM PST by Free Vulcan (Election 2012 - No Prisoners. No Mercy.)
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To: Disambiguator
I saw Tintin on Christmas Eve and enjoyed it. One of my faves of the year.

I also liked Captain America, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Moneyball, Win Win, Henry's Crime, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Barney's Version, Attack the Block, and Kill the Irishman. I expect to see MI 4 SOOON

13 posted on 12/26/2011 6:39:19 PM PST by Ted Grant
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To: Neoavatara

Hugo was fantastic.


14 posted on 12/26/2011 6:41:04 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: Jedidah

ya I also hate horse stories ,maybe the horse will win an Oscar ,PETA would be proud


15 posted on 12/26/2011 6:44:02 PM PST by molson209
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To: DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis

Tintin was great but it’s not lighting up the US Box Office. Internationally it is doing great. I enjoyed it a lot.


16 posted on 12/26/2011 6:50:47 PM PST by Ted Grant
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To: molson209

Secretariat was very good and very well done.


17 posted on 12/26/2011 6:51:54 PM PST by Ted Grant
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To: FoxPro

That’s because Hollywood is run by homos and they know what their audience wants to see.


18 posted on 12/26/2011 6:53:53 PM PST by rabidralph
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To: Neoavatara
I saw one of those. (Harry Potter, of course.)

Can't remember how many movies I actually saw this year now that the kids go with friends.

I saw Captain America, which was fun, but the ending was a tad sub-par.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes was entertaining and had a positive ending, despite knowing what the future would hold for mankind (if you consider this a prequel to the original -- or a reimaging of Escape and Conquest)

And nothing else is coming to mind.

Just went through the top 200 grossing movies of the year -- I don't think I've seen any but the ones I mentioned. wow.

19 posted on 12/26/2011 6:56:04 PM PST by Tanniker Smith (I didn't know she was a liberal when I married her.)
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To: RonDog
I haven't seen that one yet, but I've seen all the others, including Flywheel.
20 posted on 12/26/2011 6:57:01 PM PST by Hoodat (Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God. -Psalm 55:19-)
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