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.
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.
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
I know, I just mentioned it because the subject of horse movies came up.
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.
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".
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.
Bookmark
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.
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.
first acr = first act
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.
I’ve been reading Tintin for about the last 40 years, and my kids grew up with it, too.
Sounds like the Spiderman movies.
Believe or not, a conservative friend recommended Bridesmaids to me. It opens to a scene of intercourse, and the vulgarity continues from there unabated.
Ping to self
For later
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.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.