raffertyesque

2011 was a return to movie-going form. After seeing a mere 15 films in theaters in 2010, I saw 35 in theaters in 2011. I said goddamn.

The films in question (roughly in order of release date):

The Green Hornet, The Adjustment Bureau, Rango, Paul, Sucker Punch, Source Code, Hanna, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Fast Five, Thor, Bridesmaids, The Hangover Part II, X-Men: First Class, Super 8, Horrible Bosses, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Captain America: The First Avenger, Cowboys & Aliens, Attack the Block, The Devil’s Double, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, 30 Minutes or Less, Contagion, Drive, Moneyball, The Ides of March, In Time, Tower Heist, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, The Muppets, Young Adult, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Artist.

I have also since seen three other 2011 releases on video: Win Win, Cars 2, and Transformers 3. They were two thirds terrible. I think you can figure out which two thirds.

Speaking of terrible movies, in any other year, the Brett Ratner film would have been the worst movie I saw, but this year had had some stiff competition from otherwise far more competent directors. Cowboys & Aliens from Jon Favreau was a goddamn mess despite an excellent title and a great cast (Sam Rockwell! Clancy Brown!). But far worse than that was Sucker Punch by Zack Snyder. Sweet baby Jesus. Sweet Pea, even. Just terrible. But I’ve already expressed my feelings about Sucker Punch.

Of the movies I didn’t see, I think Hugo and possibly Martha Marcy May Marlene would have made my top ten, but, well, it’s already January 13th. Time to turn the page on 2011.

Anyway, on with the top 10 list.

#10 - X-Men: First Class - Brett Ratner ruined the X-Men franchise. The Wolverine movie did not help matters. So I was skeptical about the “pre-boot” or whatever they were calling this one. No Patrick Stewart, no Ian McKellen and no Halle Barry. Well, no Halle Barry. That’s something. (But the presence of January Jones essentially nullified the absence of Halle Barry.) Round it out with some C-List mutants and I wasn’t expecting much. But, well, I was pleasantly surprised. The 1960s backdrop added a little somethingsomething, and who doesn’t love Kevin Bacon as a villain? Kind of excited for the next one, actually.

#9 - Fast Five - Supposedly this is the Star Trek: Generations of the “Fast” franchise. It’s the bridge that transforms it from a car movie franchise into a heist movie franchise. I say, can’t it be both? This one pulled it off splendidly, I say keep it up. I think this might even be the best one yet, despite playing it a little fast and loose with the continuity (the Asian guy who died two movies ago is alive again?) (because continuity is of the upmost importance in this franchise).

#8 - Source Code - David Bowie’s son basically remakes his own movie from two years ago with a bigger budget, a Gyllenhaal and some of the most in-your-face product placement I’ve ever seen. And you know what? It’s pretty good. The pitch: “It’s Run Lola Run only without a hot redhead and far less running, and it’s on a train… that happens to contain a Dunkin Donuts.” Sold!

#7 - Rise of the Planet of the Apes - I am something of a Planet of the Apes snob. I’ve seen all the originals (I have the box set), and I enjoyed the Tim Burton “Ape Lincoln” version in 2001. What can I say, I loves me some bros in monkey suits. So when I found out they were going all CGI with the apes, I was ready to fling my poop at this one, but then the reviews started coming in and it was apparently good? And then I saw it myself, and goddamn, it was. And it totally respected the franchise continuity, which I was not expecting at all. Even the bus from the terrible terrible fourth sequel made an appearance! Sold!

#6 - The Muppets - Sandwiched between apes and eights. Sorry Kermit.

#5 - Super 8 - Like a really expensive Goonies fan film that happens to be directed by JJ Abrams with special effects by ILM. But hey, I’d see that movie. And I did. And it was pretty good. It’s got heart, kid. And that goes a long way. Mint!

#4 - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Like Facebook, I couldn’t have cared less about The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, but then David Fincher and Trent Reznor got involved, so then I had to care. Coming down off The Social Network high is tough, and this was no Social Network, but it still looked good and sounded great. It’s hard to live up to that trailer, though. Man.

#3 - Bridesmaids - I’m a little burnt out on Kristen Wiig, so I went into Bridesmaids cautiously optimistic. And then in the opening scene I was greeted with a hilarious sex scene between her and Jon Hamm. And I was on board. And then Chris O’Dowd from The IT Crowd showed up and there was even more rejoicing.

#2 - Attack the Block - Sort of like a low budget R-rated British version of Super 8 that doesn’t take place in 1979. You’ve got aliens, teenagers, weed, a scooter, a dog, Nick Frost and a kid named Moses who is kind of awesome. It’s all there. And it’s brilliant. Brilliant in both the British sense and the American sense of the word.

#1 - Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - Brad Bird, everybody! This is some T2-grade action movie goodness right here. It’s practically non-stop. Terminator 2 is basically two hours of being chased by a T1000. M:I:4 is basically two hours of Tom Cruise running. And climbing. And playing with awesome gadgets. But that’s okay. Despite it being Tom Cruise. I know, I am surprised as you are. See it in IMAX if you can, it’s cray cray.