Movies I watched in 2011.

  1. Black Swan
  2. The King’s Speech
  3. The Mechanic
  4. 127 Hours
  5. Blue Valentine
  6. Unknown
  7. True Grit
  8. Adjustment Bureau (twice)
  9. Battle Los Angeles
  10. Cedar Rapids
  11. Sucker Punch
  12. Source Code (twice)
  13. Hanna (three times)
  14. Your Highness
  15. Fast Five
  16. Bridesmaids
  17. Thor
  18. Hangover 2
  19. X-Men: First Class
  20. Super 8
  21. Green Lantern
  22. Transformers (twice)
  23. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (twice)
  24. Horrible Bosses
  25. Captain America
  26. Cowboys and Aliens
  27. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
  28. 30 Minutes or Less
  29. Drive (twice)
  30. Killer Elite
  31. The Ides of March
  32. 50/50
  33. The Immortals
  34. The Muppets (three times)
  35. Sherlock Holmes 2
  36. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (twice)
  37. We Bought a Zoo

 

So, counting doubles, I went to the movies 49 times, 2 less than last year. I’m surprised at that kind of consistency though. Almost once a week. I did double up more often than last year though. And there’s not actual champion, just a tie between Hanna and The Muppets for the movie I saw most.

I know, this was riveting. What movies did you find worth seeing more than once?

The 2010 Earle Awards

Presented by Drew Allen.

Better late than never.

Album of the Year

Kanye West: My Dark and Twisted Fantasy

Runner Up: The Roots: How I Got Over

This was a super tough call. I think that the emotio-moral dichotomy these two albums thematically represent is very reflective of the same dichotomy that existed in my life in 2010.

Film of the Year

Inception

Runner Up: Black Swan

SO many good movies came out this year, but in the end these were such all-encompassing experiences to Behold. The King’s Speech is definitely just behind these two for me.

New Artist of the Year

Mumford & Sons

Runner Up: The Black Keys

I think this is indicative of the rise of both meaning and groove in my musical tastes this year. Mumford is such a perfect sacred in secular example. Awesome.

TV Show of the Year

Mad Men

Runner Up: Community

Mad Men is a beautiful, dark, character-driven study of a broken man and his struggle to regain a sense of morality, purpose, and identity. Community is a uniquely written, simply hilarious look at a group of misfits learn to like and love each other. Both are amazing.

Author of the Year

Jeff Wilser

Runner Up: George Orwell

Maxims of Manhood was a great example of hilarity colliding with plain, good things that men should hear. And thanks to George, I’m afraid of my iPad.

Store of the Year

Target

Runner Up: Publix

I’ve made the switch from a generally corrupt and uncaring big box store to a clean and more socially aware one. Plus, there’s nothing like having your own place to enjoy shopping at Publix all the more.

Man of the Year

Ricky Kendall

I don’t really feel the need to say too much here, as his songs speak so much better of him than I can. Authentic, honest, wise passion roaring from his heart, mind, voice and guitar.

Lifetime Achievement Earle:

George Clooney

No explanation necessary.

“Cliché: Los Angeles” or “Battle: Cliché”

“Maybe I can help. I’m a veterinarian.”

Recently watched Battle: Los Angeles, and I’m a little torn.

The movie was great on a lot of levels. Very action-packed and suspenseful.

Problem is basically too many cheesy movie cliches. like way too many.

From terrible tough guy one-liners to just plain stupid things that would never ever happen or work. I know that you’re suspending disbelief for the aliens to be overtaking LA in the first place, but the internal physics of the movie suggest it’s happening in real life, real times, realism abounding, except for the divinely protected protagonists who survive and pull off crazy things no one ever would survive or pull off. Several border on being on plot holes instead of hyperbole.

The invincible aliens shrug off being hosed with military firepower without slowing them down until maybe we figure out where to shoot them that will really damage them! Truly laughable moments abound that I won’t spoil for you here.

Having said all that, I definitely enjoyed watching it, despite the clichés. The action doesn’t ever stop long enough for me to lean back in my chair, save for one or two inspirational moments that left me crushing on Michelle Rodriguez more than I already did.

If you can prepare for an action-packed, popcorn/cheesy blockbuster that is two thirds Independence Day and one third Snakes on a Plane, You will have a blast watching this movie.

Here’s my tip. Johann Johannsson’s song for the Battle:LA is epic, amazing, and deep. The movie, however good, is not those things. Mute the trailer, and play AC/DC’s Back in Black while watching it. That seems to me a more accurate idea of the movie.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know.

movies I watched in 2010

  1. Boondock Saints
  2. Avatar (twice)
  3. Sherlock Holmes
  4. Up in the Air (twice)
  5. Edge of Darkness
  6. Valentine’s Day
  7. Crazy Heart
  8. Cop Out
  9. Shutter Island
  10. Book of Eli
  11. Green Zone
  12. Hot Tub Time Machine
  13. Alice in Wonderland
  14. She’s Out of My League
  15. Clash of the Titans
  16. How to Own a Dragon
  17. The Ghost Writer
  18. Iron Man 2
  19. Robin Hood
  20. Prince of Persia
  21. The A-Team
  22. Toy Story 3
  23. The Last Airbender
  24. Jonah Hex
  25. Despicable Me (twice)
  26. Predators
  27. Inception (three times)
  28. Dinner for Schmucks
  29. Shrek Forever After
  30. The Expendables (twice)
  31. The American
  32. Machete (twice)
  33. The Social Network
  34. Legend of the Guardians
  35. Red
  36. It’s Kind of a Funny Story
  37. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
  38. The Next Three Days
  39. Morning Glory
  40. The Tourist
  41. The Fighter
  42. True Grit
  43. Black Swan
  44. Due Date

Sorry, Robert; Russell and Ripley beat you.

Let’s be honest with ourselves here. Iron Man 2 was doomed from the start. Iron Man rocked our faces when we weren’t even expecting faces to be rocked. So that put the bar immensely high for the sequel. All the way to see Iron Man 2 I kept telling myself it wasn’t going to be that good. And, hey! I was surprised. It was good. Sam Rockwell really stole the show as the annoying mastermind-in-the-making. And this movie even had TWO gorgeous and awesome reddish hair women to celeb-crush on. Plus they upgraded Rhodes from Terrence Howard to Don Cheadle. But I digress. It still  wasn’t as awesome as Iron Man. It was, however a sequel that delivers and is well worth watching.

I actually had pretty low expectations for Robin Hood as well. I mean, I was optimistic, but I’ve seen a few disappointing epic films in recent times. Clash of the Titans, Troy, Prince of Persia (unseen yet, but only technically, as I’ve seen the preview for a year and a half now), Beowulf, and Alexander are a few that were unable to match the hype and–(neologism alert)– “epicity”  their trailers exuded. So I wasn’t expecting much from it.

Was I wrong.

What a fantastic retelling of the folk tale of Robin Hood. Believable, love-to-hate-em-but-they’re-almost-cool-too enemies, beautiful but strong, emotionally pure but distant damsel/heroine. Ripley and Russell remain a knockout combination. I especially loved seeing Little John played by recently famous-from-LOST-guest-role Kevin Durand.

The story is great. The plot is one that keeps your attention from start to finish. The music is superb. Even the end credits are amazingly artistic. Time and money well spent.

Drew reviews several movies at once.

A lot to cover so let’s get to it.

The Ghost Writer.
This was very good. Excellent storytelling, compelling story. Reminded me of Hitchcock.

How to Train Your Dragon.
98% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it didn’t disappoint. Fantastic.

Clash of the Titans.
Not as legendary as I’d hoped for. But still entertaining and made me wanna work out.

She’s Out of My League.
Very good. Too close to home minus the hope it gave.

Alice in Wonderland.
Lighter and happier than I was expecting or hoping for.

Hot Tub Time Machine.
It’s no Hangover, but I’d put it even with Pineapple Express.

Green Zone.
Not a Bourne movie, but still great.

The Book of Eli.
Holy Crap. Best Christian movie I’ve ever seen.

Shutter Island.
Very impressive. Not as scary or disturbing as I feared it would be.