2011 was a great year for film, and I certainly saw my fair share of them. According to my Movies Seen in 2011 list, I count 188 movies this year. Many of them were DVDs and Blu-Rays from my collection (750 titles at last count), but I saw quite a number in the theater. Some were good (Hanna, Thor), some were terrible (Apollo 18, Conan the Barbarian), some were really far out there (The Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence), and a handful were fantastic.
Here are my highlights of 2011. The Top 10 of the year, the ones I wish I had seen, and some other film notes worth mention.
Just missed the Top 10:
Fast Five, Thor, Attack the Block, The Descendents, X-Men: First Class, Melancholia
Didn’t See:
Shame, The Artist, 13 Assassins, A Dangerous Method, Bridesmaids
10. Tintin
Steven Spielberg was destined to make this film. In his first time directing a motion-capture film, Spielberg tells a tight, fast-paced, often funny and always exciting adventure story based on the popular Belgian kid detective. Every frame bursts with color, energy, and excitement, and Spielberg pulls off some shots that he simply could not do in a live-action movie.
The movie is more than a technical showcase for Spielberg though. It’s a very well done film with likeable heroes and despicable villains. It has smart twists and turns, and it remains easy to follow. Plus, it features a fight in a shipyard with freakin’ cranes. Cool!
Overall, it’s a fun adventure movie by one of the best directors in the business, and it finds a spot in my Top 10.
4 Stars out of 5
9. Puss in Boots
Puss in Boots is the spinoff movie starring the awesome cat character from the Shrek franchise. Puss is a loveable scoundrel of a cat who is as fantastic with a sword as he is his wit and charm. He’s a great character and does well in his own film.
As you might imagine, the story is heavily intertwined in fairy tale lore. It follows Puss (voiced by Antonio Banderas) and his childhood pal Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianacis) as they try to steal magic beans from Jack and Jill so they can acquire the eggs of the Golden Goose. There are several great characters in the film, including Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek), but the real star is Puss. He carries the load here. Plus, he looks a lot like my own cat, which somehow makes it more enjoyable.
The story itself may not be spectacular, but it’s serviceable enough. Puss in Boots, aka., Diablo Gato, makes it a memorable movie and worthy of a spot in my Top 10.
3.5 Stars out of 5
8. Horrible Bosses
I don’t normally go for comedy films, but this one absolutely killed. It’s a smart, fun film with a nonstop flow of laughs. The chemistry between the leads is wonderful, and the chaos in which they find themselves is glorious. Who would have guessed that three friends trying to kill their bosses would be so outrageous and fun? A cracking script and fun characters made this one comedy that I really enjoyed, which is saying a lot coming from me.
3.5 Stars out of 5
7. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
Holy cow, Tom Cruise! This movie cracks the Top 10 on the basis of the incredible Burj Khalifa Tower scene alone. You know, the scene where Tom Cruise jumps out of a window 130 stories off the ground. It’s madness I tell you. Glorious madness.
This film stands out as one of the best action films of the decade, and probably the best of the four Mission Impossible films, which have all been exciting action films. It’s a simple story of an outcast group of superspies who must prevent global nuclear war. The exotic locales provide great backdrops for the action, and the ever-ticking clock ramps up the intensity. You’ll have to remember to breathe when you watch this film.
4.5 Stars out of 5
6. Super 8
This movie represents a great throwback to the action films of the 1980s. The plot synopsis has a group of kids wrapped up in an adventure involving a monster escape and the military containment and cover-up that follows. But, it’s more than just a monster movie. It’s also a great story of friendship and family, and it captures the spirit of what it means to be a kid. The chemistry among the kids really lets the movie pop off the screen. They have some great back and forth banter, and it reminds you what it was like when you were on the playground with your pals making up your own imaginary adventures.
Director J.J. Abrams maintains great pacing throughout the film mixing in intense action and character development. His direction, a great story, and superb acting make Super 8 a real treat and one of the standout films of 2011.
4 Stars out of 5
5. The Muppets
I’m an unabashed Muppets fan. It’s no secret that this was one of my most anticipated films of the year. I’m pleased to say that it met those expectations and then some. Fans of The Muppet Show will love this film. A great deal of love and care went into crafting the story with lots of winks and nods to the original show.
It’s a real Muppets movie with all the fun songs, great jokes, adorable characters, and heartfelt and witty story that you expect from them. Loved it!
4.5 Stars out of 5
4. 50/50
This is a heartfelt movie that takes a look at the harsh realities of life with cancer and manages to make it sweet and funny and sincere. It’s hard to state how finely crafted this movie is. It never gets too sappy, self-important, or self-pitiable. Instead, it seems like the story of real people dealing with a serious, life-threatening situation. It’s a great bit of cinema, and it’s sure to make you laugh and cry. You’ll feel good about life after this movie.
4.5 Stars out of 5
3. Drive
From the opening scene, Drive grabs you and never lets you go. It oozes style and atmosphere. This story of a getaway driver and the slow spiral of danger in which he finds himself just builds and builds in a slow burn that leaves you breathless. Director Nicolas Winding Refn and star Ryan Gosling combine to create one of the coolest films of the year.
Drive takes its time to develop characters and set up the story, and then it unleashes all that pent up energy in a torrent. Once the fuse is lit on the powder keg, there’s an amazing explosion on screen. It has appeared on a number of Best of 2011 lists for good reason. It’s the coolest film of the year.
5 Stars out of 5
2. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Who would have guessed that a continuation of The Planet of the Apes saga, one that conveniently ignores the horrible 1999 reboot attempt and sticks to the convoluted timeline of the original series, would be on anybody’s top ten list? Each of the Planet of the Apes films has been interesting, but few of them have been “good”. This one, however, goes straight past “good” and lands somewhere in “fantastic” territory.
The story of the ape uprising is extremely well crafted. Caesar, played by a motion-captured Andy Serkis and brought to life by technical wizards at WETA, is a fantastic character. He is a miracle ape, one whose intelligence has been elevated far beyond that of the average ape by a medical experiment. His intellect and awareness forces him to battle with his place in life – does he settle for being a glorified pet, or does he make the bold choice to lead an uprising of fellow apes? It’s amazing to see such human issues played out through the eyes of a chimpanzee. It’s a bold choice for a storyline, one that could have collapsed on itself without the technical genius of WETA since so much of the emotion hinges on Caesar.
The movie is packed with a wide range of emotions touching on Alzheimer’s disease, family drama, friendship, animal cruelty, medical ethics, and more, and it presents each character and storyline in a tight, coherent, and powerful package. It also has wonderful action that keeps things flowing along. In any other year, this would easily have been my number one film. However, another film that continues its own long-running franchise ultimately takes that spot.
5 Stars out of 5
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Harry Potter comes to an end. The last major event for the franchise that first came to the big screen in 2001 finally concluded in 2011. The eighth movie does the esteemed franchise justice, leaving us with the best entry we’ve seen. The movie is an emotionally powerful finale and leaves Harry Potter fans with a bittersweet end to the series we love – we’re happy to have such a fantastic movie and sad that it’s the last.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is an incredibly emotional experience for those of us who grew up with the series. While watching the final showdown between Harry and Voldemort and The Battle for Hogwarts, it is impossible not to reflect on the previous seven films. Each of the movies has done a great job of adapting J.K. Rowling’s ambitious tale of friendship, love, life and death, but this one features the best script, direction, cinematography, special effects, and acting of the entire franchise. This movie culminates in a fantastic send-off for the Harry Potter fans, and it stands out as my top film of 2011.
5 Stars out of 5
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