2011 wasn’t exactly the year for new and exciting blockbuster movies. Eight of the top ten highest grossing films of 2011 were furthering franchises, and in the case of Harry Potter, finally ending one. The only two “original” franchises on that list are the Smurfs and Rio. And the Smurfs don’t count because it was just a rehash of a terrible cartoon they made into a movie purely to prey on my childhood.
However, plenty of other movies came out this year, and while they weren’t the best moneymakers, some were pretty good. Of course, on the flip side of the coin, some were pretty terrible too. So here’s a look at the best and worst of 2011
Highest Grossing Film of 2011
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
When this series started, it was pretty fresh and original. Maybe a bit simplistic, but hey, it was kids fare. But by the time they got to Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 2, it was more boring than a documentary about Ben Stein. However, it was apparently worth watching, if just to see the end of the franchise, because it made $1,328,111,219. Yeah, over a billion dollars. Be ashamed.
Worst Superhero Movie of 2011
Captain America: The First Avenger
You know how movie trailers are usually pretty good even if the movie sucks? And you think “Why don’t they make a 90 minute trailer? It would be awesome!” Well, Captain America proved that one wrong. It barely has any action scenes. It shows plenty of shots from action scenes right after another, but you barely ever see the actual action scene. Plus, while it’s standard for super hero movies to spend 20 minutes on a origin story, this entire movie is an origin story! And the ending leaves you wanting more than an abrupt ending on prom night.
Runner-Up: Every other superhero movie to come out this year.
Worst Movie of 2011
The Three Musketeers
When your movie is based on a book set only in France, and your movie opens in Italy, something is wrong already. This movie is depressing. If you love Alexandre Dumas’ classic, or have even heard of it, you’ll realize they took artistic liberty past the breaking point and out the other side. Whoever wrote the screenplay for The New Three Musketeers clearly didn’t even bother to read the plot synopsis on Wikipedia. And oh, yeah, airships.
Runner-Up: Real Steel. Someone looked at Rock’em Sock’em Robots and thought “Hey, this would be a great movie!”
Best Movie of 2011
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
More like proof that 2011 wasn’t a great year in cinema, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes was the best mainstream movie released this year. A surprisingly touching look at the origins of super apes, this movie delivered more than it promised. It was also good enough to make us forget the travesty that Tim Burton spawned on the world. However, it was still a remake, and it was about monkeys. Hopefully next year, we’ll get some more innovative fare.
Runner Up:
Hesher.
Funny, smart, and it had the sexy-done-geeky Natalie Portman.
And that’s it for 2011. Did we get it right? Will 2012 be any better? Why? The comment section is yours.
Havent Seen All Of These Yet?
Pretty much all of them are available through Amazon:
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