50 Movies in 2011

[Poolio]

102. Finding Nemo
103. Hogfather
104. The far country - Part of a double feature of Jimmy Stewart western at the Wexner Center.
105. The man from Laramie
106. Paul - "Oh shit. Sailors!"
107. Went the day well? - A British film from WWII about a fictional battle after a German battalion invades a small town in England. It was wonderful. It's clearly a "Watch the skies, keep your chin up and do your part" film but it's very well-done and very effective. If you can find it, see it.
108. Azumi - A stylish assassin pic set in Feudal Japan... unfortunately all that style goes to waste on an empty story.
109. It happened on 5th Avenue - On TCM. As Robert Osborne said in his intro, this is a charming film. I saw it for the first time last Christmas and it instantly became one of my favorites.

110. The Woodmans (Independent Lens)
111. Trollhunter - a fake documentary of a Trollhunter and the college students who follow him around. Much better than I was expecting.

[va_vacious]

New to me movies are bolded

1. Tron: Legacy  Fun to watch, but no plot. Spent a great deal of time wondering about the first movie.
2. Country Strong Really liked- good story, loads more music than I expected, and decent singing
3. Sweeney Todd  This movie has LOTS of singing--- why was I surprised? The blood, less so.
4. The King's Speech My favorite movie so far this year! Loved, loved, loved it.
5. Miss Potter  Renee Zellweger (SP?) was dreadful, Ewan McGregor was not.
6. True Grit Truly good- and a fun time. Clever, with great dialogue that I cannot remember
7. I Love You Phillip Morris very entertaining
8. Take Me Home Tonight Topher Grace was delightful, and it was a great deal like a Savage Steve Holland of the '80s.
9. Paul Sweetly sci-fi.  Jason Bateman steals every scene he's in.
10. Hope Springs a rather obscure Colin Firth film co-starring Heather Graham.  Not so good
11. Troy Good grief, why haven't I seen this before?  Brad Pitt and Eric Bana were pretty, pretty, pretty, and I get to continue my Garrett Hedlund movie theme! (He's Patrocles)
12. Once Upon a Time in Mexico  Oh, Antonio, you're dreeeeeaaaamy. And Johnny, you aren't so bad either.
13. The Adjustment Bureau  How did I forget this one?  Really liked it.
14. United Not good to watch before getting on a plane. David Tennant nailed it, though.
15. The Other Guys I wish Will Farrell's character had stayed ordinary, but it was fun, and so over the top. Good rental.
16. Prom A very Disney experience. They kept talking about how "perfect" Prom had to be. I don't remember anyone actually saying that Prom would be perfect/the apex of one's high school career. Very sweet, and appropriate for kids. The grown-up version would have been better, though.
17. Casanova surfed the 'net through most of it... pretty costumes and Venice, should have seen it when it came out: would have liked it better.
18. Craig Ferguson: Does This Need to be Said? It's his stand-up show, but pretty funny. Bonus for being filmed at the TN performing Arts Center, where I have been many times!
19. Young at Heart Doc about a 70yo and up chorus that sings contemporary songs (Sonic Youth, Coldplay) as well as James Brown and the Clash. Really liked their version of "Fix You". Found it to be a little heartbreaking, but you don't expect a documentary about octogenarians to have everyone live happily ever after.
20. Wet, Hot, American Summer- love this movie. Reminds me of my summer camp (the clothes, especially) and has so many people in it. Paul Rudd, Janene Garafolo, Bradley Cooper, Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, Ken Marino, Amy Pohler, David Hyde Pierce...
21. One Week- A love letter to Canada starring Pacey, I mean Peter Bishop, ok, it's Joshua Jackson...
22. A Life Less Ordinary- Ewan McGregor is a kidnapper, Cameron Diaz is the kidnappee, Holly Hunter is an angel (and sharpshooter), directed by Danny Boyle. Sweet film, and Cameron is so pretty in this movie- she isn't all gaunt and scary looking like she is now.
23. Super 8 Fun film-- Elle Fanning was great, but there was not enough Kyle Chandler
24. Glory Road- Why isn't Josh Lucas more famous?
25. Clerks II- it was like going back to 1995, and I'd forgotten how crude these movies are.
26. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2   Now I'm really wanting to see "Severus Snape and the Really Awesome Movie" (featuring Maggie Smith as the under-utilized Prof. McGonigle) I'm sure there is stuff on the cutting room floor that would make a great mini film of them.
27. Hereafter Plus: Matt Damon. Minus: French subtitles. It turned out to be a love story, which was a little disappointing. Very quiet- no background music except in the cooking classes and at the very end. Not bad for a free redbox rental.
28. Friends with Benefits Not very good. Timberlake tried to get out of acting by singing in every other scene.
29. Crazy Stupid Love  Where have you been all my life, Ryan Gosling? Really liked the Gosling/Carell interaction.
30. Dangerous Beauty I think I saw this movie earlier this year-- it was called "Cassanova"
31. Follow That Bird - weird '80s movie where Big Bird gets sent to live with the Dodo family. I was babysitting, don't judge.
32. It Might Get Loud I might have to go listen to all Led Zepplin albums since I've never really listened to Jimmy Page.
33. The Bourne Identity-- annual August watching.
34. Fright Night opening scene scared the heebee-jeebies out of me. Glad the rest of it didn't! Fun, light, pop-corny.
35. The Men who Stare at Goats Interesting... if a bit odd.
36. Miracle Coach should have been played by Kyle Chandler. That is all.
37. Little Women (1933) I still think Jo and Laurie should have ended up together. And Beth still dies, making me cry.
38. The Good Guy Wall Street guy, and how his life falls apart. Andrew McCarthy says "fuck" a whole lot, and is what Blaine turned in to.  Also, Scott Porter and Alexis Bleidel play age-appropriate roles!
39. The Namesake An Indian-American (Kal Penn) discovers who he was named for. It was ok, but I was distracted through most of it.
40. Drive Agree with Lando that it felt very '80s. Definitely gory, which bothered me a little.
41. Saving Grace If I can't be in the UK, I'll just watch movies from there!
42. Born Romantic rom-com set in a London salsa club. s'aright
43. Fast Five Terrible acting, but if you're watching this for the acting, you're at the wrong movie. Needed more action, less plot.
44. August Rush a rather sweet fairy tale about music.
45. Role Models- It's Wet, Hot, American summer in different roles! Paul Rudd can do no wrong.
46. Snow White- She looks a little anime-esque, doesn't she?
47. Run, Fat Boy, Run not the best Simon Pegg movie.
48. The Muppets Incredibly earnest, very sweet, and who doesn't love Kermit?
49. How Do You Know? Saw this earlier this year, wanted it to be better than it was, especially with the cast it has.
50. Water for Elephants love the elephant.
51. Little Voice  Where my Ewan McGregor obsession came from.
52. Cinderella  Has anyone else noticed that the king has gigantic hands?
53. Cinderella  (again!) the king still has gigantic hands, and Cinderella is kind of a wimp.
54. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo(foreign) so glad I had read the book, because otherwise none of it would make sense.
55. The Girl Who Played with Fire  Really couldn't remember if this was the second or 3rd in the series. A good place holder. Still an incredible film.
56. New Year's Eve Cast of thousands, and they were not paired up as I thought they should be. Cute, in a non-award winning way. And who makes Michelle Pfeiffer unattractive?!?

57. Wall-E  gets better each time
58. Bridesmaids really thought the Wiig/Rudolph friendship was the best part. 

[Butter]

1. 45365 - 7
2. My Gaming Addiction - 8
3. V for Vendetta - 9
4. Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work - 8
5. Cropsey - 9
6. American Grindhouse - 7
7. Gulliver's Travels (2010) - 3
8. The House of the Devil - 7
9. The Kids are All Right - 8
10. Blue Valentine - 10
11. Exit Through the Gift Shop - 8
12. Mary and Max - 5.5
13. Nursery University - 7
14. Tangled - 7
15. The Invention of Lying - 4
16. Please Give - 7
17. The Adjustment Bureau - 7
18. Hunger - 9
19. The Art of the Steal - 6
20. Spread - 1
21. Freakonomics - 6
22. Rango - 9
23. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules - 4
24. The Blues Brothers - 8
25. Cedar Rapids - 7
26. I Love You Phillip Morris - 8
27. Due Date - 5
28. Source Code - 8
29. Brothers - 7
30. Get Low - 9
31. His Way - 6
32. It's Kind of a Funny Story - 8
33. Four Weddings and a Funeral - 7
34. Amazon Women on the Moon - 5
35. Love and Other Drugs - 6
36. Water for Elephants - 6.5
37. Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. - 9
38. Hot Tub Time Machine - 7
39. Easy A - 8
40. Rio - 4
41. Four Lions - 9.5
42. World's Greatest Dad - 7
43. Kung Fu Panda 2 - 6
44. Until the Light Takes Us - 7
45. Winter's Bone - 8
46. The Last Station - 7
47. The Box - 9
48. The Thin Man - 8
49. Super 8 - 7
50. The Hangover, Part II - 4
51. Brazil - 11
52. 9 - 9
53. Up the Yangtze - 7.5
54. Let Me In - 8
55. Thor - 6.5
56. Bill Cosby: Himself - 8
57. The King's Speech - 9
58. Horrible Bosses - 6.5
59. Cars 2 - 4
60. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 - 7
61. Midnight in Paris - 8
62. Anvil! The Story of Anvil - 8
63. Drag Me to Hell - 9
64. Devil - 3
65. Crazy Stupid Love - 6.5
66. Up in the Air - 8
67. Fright Night (2011) - 6
68. Contagion - 5
69. The Thin Blue Line - 8
70. The Kid Stays in the Picture - 10
71. Catching Hell - 5
72. Fire in Babylon - 7
73. Ghost World - 9
74. Dogtooth - 5
75. Bridesmaids - 8
76. Halloween (1978) - 10
77. Moneyball - 8
78. Village of the Damned (1960) - 8
79. Unguarded - 7
80. 50/50 - 7
81. The Muppets - 9
82. Hugo (in 3D) - 8
83. Zodiac - 9
84. The Descendants - 8
85. Like Crazy - 5
86. Arthur Christmas - 7
87. Black Swan - 9
88. Disney's A Christmas Carol - 9
89. Lost in La Mancha - 7

90. Melancholia - 2 if you don't like "artsy, talky" films, 8 if you do... I do, so it's an 8.

This was a thoroughly interesting movie, although it plays out almost painfully slowly at times.  This is true of the 10 minute opening during which it is clear that the end of the world will occur by the end of the film.  It features perhaps one of the shortest screen weddings in cinematic history, but one of the longest receptions.  It is very well acted, and not really a science fiction movie at all, though that is the plot device that moves things along. 

Kirsten Dunst does a very good job portraying the depressive (sometimes to a paralyzing fault) Justine, while Charlotte Gainsbourg is nearly her equal portraying her put-upon sister Claire.  This movie does not much follow the "Dogma 95" techniques that I was expecting.  There is a soundtrack (even if it is the same operatic movement repeated several times), there are special effects, and not all of the camera movements are so shaky as to make you want to vomit.  It is too long, but other than that I have few complaints.

[c-lando]

58. Bridesmaids really thought the Wiig/Rudolph friendship was the best part.  

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES! Aside from the gross out humor, this was the only thing that really stuck with me from the movie.

[c-lando]

1. FROM HELL - 01/01/11 - TiVo - 1 out of 5
2. STONED - 01/01/11 - Blockbuster DVD - 1 out of 5
3. THE DEEP - 01/02/11 - Encore Mystery - 3 out of 5
4. PLEASE GIVE - 01/02/11 - dvd from library - 3.5 out of 5
5. THE CRAIGSLIST KILLER - 01/04/11 - Lifetime movie - 2 out of 5 
6. BROKEN EMBRACES - 01/10/11 - dvd from library - 5 out of 5 - LOVED!
7. JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK - 01/10/11 - Showtime - 4 out of 5 - Joan hustles, bobs, and weaves!
8. THE KING'S SPEECH - 01/08/11 - AMC Parkway Point - 3.5 out of 5 - great perfomances, especially from Geoffrey Rush.
9. COUNTRY STRONG - 01/15/11 - AMC Parkway Point - 1.5 out of 5 - CHEESY and SILLY. My friend picked this one. I told HIM that I get to pick something with fewer costume changes next time.
10. THE FIGHTER - 01/22/11 - AMC Pkwy Point - 3 out of 5 - For being a professional fighter, it sure felt like Micky Ward was a pu$$y in his home life. He couldn't tell anyone no. Maybe he just seemed so whipped because Marky likes to whine. I don't know. But, I liked this for the reasons I thought I would - Melissa Leo and Christian Bale. Oh, and the fight scenes.
11. SUMMER HOURS - 01/23/11 - Sundance - 4 out of 5 - I'm a Juliette Binoche junky. She is the reason I TIVO'd this but she's not in the film very much. I still really enjoyed it. It felt like a true glimpse of real life.  
12. THE DAMNED UNITED - 01/26/11 - HBO or Showtime - 4 out of 5 - Loved it. Michael Sheen is nearly always fantastic. Plus, it was fun to see Al Capone in a curly, blond wig.
13. BLUE VALENTINE - 01/29/11 - AMC Phipps - 4 out of 5 - You will walk out of this feeling like you need to go to couples' therapy, even if you're not in a couple.  It's a CRIME that Gosling was not nominated.
14. DEPARTURES - 01/30/11 - dvd borrowed from Virgil - 5 out of 5 - one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen. SEEK IT OUT!
15. THE LOST VALENTINE - 02/05/11 - Hallmark CBS movie - 2 out of 5 - Betty White played it straight and did a fine job. I almost could have liked this if J. Love didn't have those STUPID false eyelashes. It was fun seeing Sweet Auburn on screen, if it was in habited by white people. Oh, and the girl who played young Betty White was hot.
16. I KNEW IT WAS YOU: Rediscovering John Cazale - 02/05/11 - 3 out of 5 - great idea, poor execution.
17. A SMALL ACT - 02/13/11 - HBO - 3 out of 5
18. THE GOOD NIGHT - 02/19/11 - Blockbuster dvd (that I've had for more than a month) - 0 out of 5 - RUBBISH! Do not bother. Fantastic crap. Piece of crap movie. HATE.
19. UNKNOWN - 02/19/11 - AMC Parkway Point w/Victor - 1.5 out of 5 - I adore Diane Kruger. Everything else and everyone else bored me. I had more hope for this since I actually liked TAKEN.
20. THE BACK-UP PLAN - 02/26/11 - dvd from library - 1 out of 5 - I actually really liked J. Lo in this movie. But, I cannot stress enough how AWFUL the single women's support group was in this film. Offensive. Stupid. Gross. AWFUL!
21. SEX & THE CITY 2 - 02/27/11 - dvd from the library - 2 out of 5 - I liked the relationship stuff with Big and Carrie. Liked all the shiny clothes. Loved the best gay wedding EVER. Everything else was blah.
22. TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT - 03/05/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe - 1.5 out of 5 - All of the 1.5 is for Topher Grace. Dude really is charming on screen and I hope someone sees him in this and starts casting him in more stuff. The rest of the movie was pants. I hate when peopel throw a bunch of stuff from the 80s together and think that's OK. Michael Jackson's BAD did not come out at the same time as Madonna's LIKE A VIRGIN. There would be no reason for both to be all-over a record store wall. No dude in mall punk clothing would be screaming "BOOOOOYYYYYYEEEE!". Ugh. Perv alert: You get to see Angie Everhart's b00bies. I think she bought a new pair for the occasion. But, she's still GORGEOUS if you're into ginger wenches.
23. CONVICTION - 03/06/11 - dvd from Blockbuster online - 3 out of 5 - now that's some sibling dedication.
24. THE RAMEN GIRL - 03/13/11 - dvd from Blockbuster online - 1 out of 5 - had a great idea but they did nothing with it. Needed to show more of Japan and more of the FOOD!!!! Good to see some of the cast from DEPARTURES though.
25. I AM LOVE - 03/18/11 - dvd from library - 2.5 out of 5 - gorgeous movie but I couldn't really connect with it at all. BEWARE: SWINTON MUFF!
26. THE LINCOLN LAWYER - 03/19/11 - AMC Parkway Point - 4 out of 5 - I really love this character from the books and Mr. L-I-V-I-N brought him to life in an unexpected but entertaining way. Great music and superb supporting cast (never saw W.H. Macy in the investigator role but he was spot-on!) except for Ryan Phillipe. He seemed to be smiling or smirking in some very inappropriate places. I still haven't figured out if that was him in character or if each occasion was a glimpse of him coming out of character.
27. MARTY - 03/20/11 - Tivo from TCM's Oscar month - 4 out of 5 - I want to give Marty a hug and I want a poster of him hitting that bus stop sign.
28. MACGRUBER - 03/26/11 - HBO - 2 out of 5 - I couldn't help but chuckle EVERY TIME they mentioned Val Kilmer's character's name. I wouldn't watch it again but it did make me laugh.
29. THE TOURIST - 04/03/11 - Redbox dvd - 2.5 out of 5 - not awful but not very good. Angelina Jolie was stunning in this movie. Seriously. I don't think she's ever looked more lovely. Yowza.
30. HIS WAY - 04/06/11 - HBO - 3 stars - This was the film version of the Jerry Weintraub book that I read earlier this year. It was fun to hear these stories from his mouth (and the mouths fo others) and to see footage of the Sinatra show, The Main Event, along with other clips. JW might suck his own dong a bit too much, but I'd probably scream all of my stories from the rooftops as well if I lived 1/2 of his life.
31. HALL PASS – 04/08/11 – AMC Barrett Commons 24 – 0 out of 5 – It was THAT bad. Seriously, totally AWFUL.
32. YOUR HIGHNESS – 04/09/11 – AMC Parkway Pointe – 4 out of 5 – It delivered on what I wanted from this movie. I was giggling in the first 5 seconds.
33. LIMITLESS – 04/09/11 – AMC Parkway Pointe (double-dip) – 0 out of 5 – We double-dipped and saw this for free. I’m very glad I didn’t pay for this turd.
34. THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE – 04.15.11 – dvd from library – 4 out of 5 – I thought the effects were amazing for this movie. Great cast. LOOOOOOOOOVED Jay Baruchel. Nic Cage was even good. FUN STUFF! Much better than I expected.
35. THE KARATE KID – 04.17.11 – dvd from library – 3 out of 5 – The bullying in the beginning REALLY got to me. Maybe because of his age. I was surprised by my own reaction to that. Rating bumped up ½ star for the great training sequences. The whole “jacket on/jacket off” thing is so laughable. Tell me how they never thought about the fact that they were saying JACKET OFF in a kids movie like a BILLION TIMES!!?!!?!!?
36. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON - 04/22/11 - borrowed DVD - 4.5 out of 5 - started off slow for me but then I REAAAAAALLY loved it. Fantastic story. Good lessons. LOVED IT! I want a Toothless.
37. TANGLED - 04/23/11 - borrowed DVD - 2 out of 5 - meh.
38. HANNA - 04/23/11 - AMC Parkway Point - 2.5 out of 5 - Loved all the hand-to-hand combat stuff. Dug the music. But, it was a little too soulless or something. Maybe it was Cate Blnchett's fault. It seemed like she was trying too hard to give us Clarice Starling + Hannibal Lecter in the same body. Overkill.
39. THE BLACK DAHLIA - 05/01/11 -library dvd - 2 out of 5 - loved the book and didn't really care for the movie. It felt like a lowsy CHINATOWN/LA CONFIDENTIAL wannabe.
40. ALL GOOD THINGS – 05/07/11 – Netflix streaming – 1 out of 5 stars – Ryan Gosling and Frank Langella in a movie based on a true story? Sure, I’ll give it a go on the streaming Netflix. Blech. I only give this 1 star because Kirsten Dunst was FANTASTIC in her role. However, everything else about this movie was horrible, horrible, horrible. I can never remember the name of this title for more than 5 seconds after I look it up. It immediately leaves my brain. Seriously, don’t watch it.
41. SOURCE CODE – 05/08/11 – AMC Barrett Commons 24 w/my mom – 4 out of 5 stars – Ignore the “science” in this movie and watch it for the thriller aspect and the character interaction. Great performances really help pull off this movie that should not have worked on any level.
42. BRIDESMAIDS – 05/14/11 – Starlight Six Drive-In – 3 out of 5 – I want Maya Rudolph to have my babies!
43. INCENDIARY – 05/15/11 – Netflix Streaming - 1 out of 5 - I'm thinking this movie had a billion re-writes and they could never figure out which story they wanted to tell. Is this a thriller? Is it a social-commentary on the post 9/11 world? Is it about the loss of a child? Is it about a chav slapper getting what she deserves? No clue. PERV ALERT. Michelle Williams in the tub and Ewan McGregor's butt (but who hasn't seen that like a billion times!!!).
44. THE ART OF THE STEAL – 05/15/11 – Netflix Streaming - 3.5 out of 5 - I'm happy someone told this story to all of us outside of the Philly area.
45. CROPSEY – 05/15/11 – Netflix Streaming - 2 out of 5 - A documentary film that is interesting but it doesn't answer many of the questions that it asks. That Willowbrook footage is beyond disturbing. I kind of wish I'd never seen it, especially after reading certain things about mental wards in the HENRIETTA LACKS book.
46. THE OTHER GUYS – 05/29/11 – Netflix – 0 out of 5 – a previously abandoned movie that should have stayed abandoned.
47. COCO BEFORE CHANEL – 06/04/11 – DVD from library – 3 out of 5
48. MEGAMIND! – 06/04/11 – DVD from library – 4 out of 5
49. X:MEN ORIGINS – WOLVERINE – 06/04/11 – HBO – 2 out of 5 – terrible special effects. AMAZING Liev Schreiber.
50. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES – 06/05/11 – AMC Parkway Pointe w/ THE GREG – 3 out of 5
51. SERENITY - 06/09/11 - dvd from Blockbuster (now going for same rate as their kiosks $1/day) - 4 out of 5 - This would have been a 5 if the good doctor's whole demeanor didn't piss me off. He seemed SO different from the series that it REALLY threw me off. Otherwise, fantastic way to honor the fans and the series. I am VERY surprised that I did not have REAVER nightmares. Browncoats forever!!!!
52. RANGO – 06/11/11 – The Fabulous Fox Theatre – 3 out of 5 – always a great experience to see a film at the Fox. The projection was fantastic. Much better than I expected. The movie was fun and trippy but a little too long.
53. SUPER 8 – 06/12/11 – AMC Parkway Pointe – 4 out of 5 – The kids really sold this movie for me. First time I’ve had that GOONIES vibe from a gang of kids in a movie since THE GOONIES. Make sure you stay around for the credits. You don’t have to wait till the end of the credits. The fun stuff plays DURING the credits.
54. X-MEN: FIRST CLASS – 06/12/11 – AMC Parkway Pointe – 4 out of 5 – I liked this as much as I would ever expect to like an X-MEN movie. James McAvoy continues to move up my crush list. Good lord.
55. THE MECHANIC – 06/17/11 – free Blockbuster Express rental – 2.5 out of 5 – not bad for a Jason Statham movie. It tried to have a little style and be a little more bloody than your standard action fare. Thumbs up as a free rental.
56. NEVER LET ME GO – 06/19/11 – free Blockbuster Express rental – 4 out of 5 – I thought the film was nearly as haunting as the book. Great performance from Carrie Mulligan.
57. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS - 06/26/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe with Victor - 3.5 out of 5
58. THE COMPANY - 07/01/11 - dvd from library - 3 out of 5 - Neve Campbell and Robert Altman? That's an odd pairing. This movie is what BLACK SWAN would have been without all the psycho-sexual craziness.
59. TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON - 07/06/11 - used Fandango LivingSocial coupon at newly renovated Merchant's Walk - 2.5 out of 5 - So, I didn't hate this. That was the biggest surprise. Other surprises were Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, and Patrick Dempsey. I had no idea they were in the movie. It was about 45 minutes too long. I enjoyed the long battle scenes and thought that this movie probably had the best live action special effects that I have ever seen (except for a scene or two where things just looked way too fake).
60. A MATTER OF TASTE – SERVING UP PAUL LIEBRANT – 07/08/11 – HBO documentary ON DEMAND – 4 out of 5 – LOVED!
61. HARRY POTTER & THE GHASTLY HALLOWS PART 1 – 07/08/11 – Blockbuster Express – 3 out of 5 – DARK POTTER!
62. WALL STREET 2: MONEY  NEVER SLEEPS – 07/09/11 – HBO – 3 out of 5 – Better than I expected.
63. HORRIBLE BOSSES – 07/10/11 – AMC Parkway Pointe with Victor and Amanda - 2 out of 5 – I’m being nice by giving this 2 stars. Without Charlie Day, I would have given it 1 star.
64. BAD TEACHER – 07/10/11 – AMC Parkway Pointe with Victor - .5 out 5 – Jason Segal helps get them on the board.
65. SEX CRIMES UNIT – 07/14/11 – HBO documentary ON DEMAND – 3 out of 5 – learned a lot about the evolution of how sex crimes are treated and prosecuted in this country with NYC leading the way in most of the changes.
66. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS Part II – 07/16/11 – AMC Parkway Pointe with THE GREG – 4.5 out of 5
67. A FAMILY IS A FAMILY IS A FAMILY – 07/17/11 – OnDemand – 3.5 out of 5
68. BECOMING JANE – 07/23/11 – dvd from library – 2 out of 5 (all points awarded to McAvoy)
69. LETTERS TO JULIET – 07/24/11 – dvd from library – 2 out of 5 (all points deducted as a result of making Gael Garcia Bernal second fiddle to ANYONE on the planet)
70. CRAZY, STUPID LOVE - 07/31/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe with Amanda, Gwynner, and Victor - 3 out of 5 - didn't love it like I thought I would. However, there is a surprise twist that I did NOT see coming at all. I was impressed by that - BIG TIME. But, I didn't feel like that played honestly. None of the relationships really rang true to me which is probably why this didn't hit a homerun like it should have.
71. THE HELP - 08/12/11 - AMC in Hamilton (with my aunts and Mom - YAY!) - 2.5 out of 5 - Viola Davis and Bryce Dallas Howard were fantastic in their roles but I thought Emma Stone was miscast. Also, I think it's impossible to watch a movie set in this time period and not feel like MAD MEN has already done it better when it comes to sets, costumes, etc. Loved the book but the movie was blah. Enjoyable enough as an early matinee with the ladies in my life but I wouldn't go out of my way to watch it again.
72. UNSTOPPABLE - 08/21/11 - dvd from library - 4 out of 5 - TRAIN PR0N!!!!! I liked this SO MUCH MORE than I thought that I would. Great pace, good performances, lots of choo-choos. Maybe I like this more than most people because I grew up watching trains with my dad and I knew he'd love this movie too. Couldn't wait to call him and tell him to go rent it NOW.
73. LIFE AS WE KNOW IT - 08/21/11 - 1 out of 5 - I mostly watched this because Josh Duhmel can be charming and I wanted to see all of the spots they used in Atlanta.
74. SORRY, THANKS - 08/20/11 - Sundance/TIVO - 2 out of 5 - I love Wiley Wiggins and found him to be lovely in this movie. But, the lead actress had some serioulsy strange bug eyes. Also, the ending was AAAAAAAAWFUL. Hipsters with movie equipment.
75. I AM NUMBER FOUR - 09/02/11 - Blockbuster Exproess kiosk - 3 out of 5
76. THE DEBT - 09/04/11 - AMC Parkway Poine w/Mom - 3 out of 5
77. THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR - 09/05/11 - DVD from library - 3 out of 5 - most awkward love scene EVER. So many shots of the World Trade Center. I'd give this movie a 5 out of 5 just for the shot of Max Von Sydow's reflection in the rain puddle as he is walking across the street. GORGEOUS.
78. THE GUARD - 09/10/11 - Lefont Sandy Springs - 3.5 out of 5 - Lots of fun. Brenden Gleeson is FANTASTIC in this role. I also have a bit of a b0ner for Mark Strong and he was also very good in this film.
79. THE INVENTION OF LYING - 09/14/11 - HBO - 2.5 out of 5 - a little fat kid with a snubbed nose just wants to be loved.
80. DRIVE - 09/18/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe - 4 out of 5 - moody Gosling, lingering shots with no quick edits/cuts, dreamy music, insanely amazing car chase scenes, cheesy moments, serious GORE, and Albert Brooks as a bad guy. Kinda. This felt like it was straight out of the 80s and I loved nearly every minute of it that didn't include Carrie Mulligan. I dig her but I didn't understand her in this movie. Maybe part of the problem was that the film crapped out on us in the theatre just as these two were getting to know each other. Next thing we knew (after 15 minutes of them tinkering with the machine), they were hanging out together. No idea if they ever slept together. Also, I saw this movie with a person who doesn't see a lot of movies. She kept telling me that she didn't understand what was going on. This is why I usually see movies alone.
81. MONEYBALL - 09/23/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe w/The Greg - 4 out of 5
82. KILLER ELITE - 09/25/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe w/Victor - 3.5 out of 5 - I think the critics were too harsh. This was very enjoyable as a smarter than average action flick. Especially as one that stars Jason Stayfumm.
83. IN TIME - 11/06/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe w/Victor and Amanda - 2 out of 5 - I loved the idea and the design and the cast. But, it didn't quite come together. Very cold (as sci-fi can be) but something was definitely missing.
84. TOWER HEIST - 11/12/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe with Amanda and my Mom - 1st 2/3rds of the movie get a 4 and the last 1/3rd gets a 1 - Started off with a bang and kept my attention until it stumbled onto a big WTF that I couldn't get past.
85. J. EDGAR - 11/19/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe with Victor - 2 out of 5 - Great make-up and terrific performances but booooooorinnnnnnngzzzzzzzzz.
86. CHASING PAPI - 11/23/11 - OnDemand - 1 out of 5 - blonde Sophia Vergara
87. THE DILEMMA - 11/23/11 - HBO or Encore - 0 out of 5 - Winona Ryder = anti-b0ne in this movie
88. THE MUPPETS - 11/26/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe with Victor and Mindy - 5 out of 5 - LOOOOOOOOVED. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!
89. THE EXPRESS - 11/27/11 - dvd from library - 3 out of 5
90. THE DESCENDANTS - 12/03/11 - AMC Phipps Plaza with Victor - 4 out of 5
91. THE RITE - 12/10/11 - HBO - 1 out of 5 - Not bad, but not great. You don't see Tony Hopkins till the 25th minute in the film. A little spooky, a lot boring.
92. HUGO in 3D - 12/11/11 - 4 out of 5 - I was the only person in the theatre watching this. It was fun to watch a movie about the love of movies in a theatre all to myself. Great use of 3D. Terrific performance from the young boy. I didn't love EVERYONE in the cast and I thought it could have been a bit shorter. But, those are small complaints. It was a fun, memorable day at the movies. I think that was the finest love letter to film since CINEMA PARADISO.
93. YOUNG ADULT - 12/17/11 - AMC Pkwy Pointe with Victor - 3 out of 5
94. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (US) - 12/26/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe with Victor - 4.5 out of 5

95. FAST FIVE - 12/28/11 - dvd from library - 3 out of 5 - Shiny, fun action movie.

[Cockney Rebel]

1 • Von Ryan's Express
2 • Prick Up Your Ears
3 • Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
4 • The Sugarland Express
5 • Hubble
6 • True Grit (2010)
7 • The Social Network
8 • Please Remove Your Shoes
9 • Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
10 • Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist & Rebel
11 • Assault on a Queen
12 • Big Trouble
13 • The American
14 • Hopscotch
15 • Easy Rider
16 • Tapped
17 • Four Beats to Bar No Cheating
18 • Fish Don't Blink
19 • Five Easy Pieces
20 • The King's Speech
21 • Nowhere Boy
22 • Red
23 • Jazz on a Summer's Day
24 • The Cruise
25 • The Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle
26 • Unstoppable
27 • Georgy Girl
28 • I Like Killing Flies
29 • Inside Job
30 • V for Vendetta
31 • Local Hero
32 • Friends (with Benefits)
33 • I Need that Record!
34 • Bill Hicks - Sane Man
35 • Abba: The Movie
36 • Stir Crazy
37 • Showgirls
38 • Still Bill
39 • Rabbit Hash
40 • Exit Through the Gift Shop
41 • Emmanuelle 7
42 • Dagmar's Hot Pants, Inc.
43 • Emmanuelle
44 • When in Rome
45 • Dogging: A Love Story
46 • Private Lessons
47 • Batman: The Movie (1966)
48 • Love & Death
49 • Dave Chappelle's Block Party
50 • Glastonbury: The Movie
51 • The Bounty Hunter
52 • Sixty Six
53 • Lemmy
54 • 127 Hours
55 • Abigail's Party
56 • Nuts in May
57 • Thirst
58 • The Parking Lot Movie
59 • Carry on Columbus
60 • Looking for Eric
61 • Beer Wars
62 • Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
63 • Goal! 2: Living the Dream
64 • Four Lions
65 • How to Train your Dragon
66 • Fritz the Cat
67 • Coma
68 • Clockwise
69 • Striptease: The Greatest Exotic Dancers of All Time
70 • Made in Dagenham
71 • Carry on Cruising
72 • Moog
73 • Strange Brew
74 • The Square Peg
75 • Cashback
76 • I Want Candy
77 • Oh, God! Book II
78 • United
79 • Another Year
80 • How Do You Know
81 • The Italian Job
82 • No Strings Attached
83 • Nine Songs
84 • Naked States
85 • X-Men: First Class
86 • Love and Other Drugs
87 • The Maiden Heist
88 • Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
89 • Beyond the Poseidon Adventure
90 • Comic Book Villains
91 • The Comedians of Comedy
92 • Grumpy Old Men
93 • 911 In Plane Site
94 • Anita & Me
95 • Flawless
96 • The Illusionist
97 • Bullshot
98 • Striptease
99 • Super 8
100 • Spice World
101 • Rockers
102 • Turning Green
103 • Make Mine Mink
104 • The Box
105 • Red Riding 1974
106 • Red Riding 1980
107 • Red Riding 1983
108 • Naked Ambition: An R-rated look at an X-rated industry
109 • Made in Britain
110 • Man, Woman and the Wall
111 • McLibel
112 • Invictus
113 • OSS 117 - Lost in Rio
114 • The Rocky Horror Picture Show
115 • The Gumball Rally
116 • A Technicolor Dream
117 • Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
118 • The Man with Two Brains
119 • Kill Your Idols
120 • Cleopatra Jones
121 • PlayTime
122 • The Weather Girl
123 • Sex Machine
124 • Novo
125 • The Hot Rock
126 • White Palace
127 • The Happy Hooker
128 • Black Snake Moan
129 • Skyline
130 • The First Turn-On!
131 • The Adjustment Bureau
132 • The Suicide Tourist
133 • Source Code
134 • Rubber
135 • Dr Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine
136 • Waitress!
137 • The Lincoln Lawyer
138 • Starter for Ten
139 • Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
140 • Disaster on the Coastliner
141 • The Van
142 • The Driver
143 • If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium
144 • Hall Pass
145 • BASEketball
146 • Absolute Beginners
147 • 4192 - The Crowning of the Hit King
148 • Casino Jack
149 • Spread
150 • 8 Mile
151 • The Conversation
152 • The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish
153 • Love Ranch
154 • OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
155 • Fever Pitch
156 • The Knack... and How to Get It
157 • Bagdad Cafe
158 • Microcosmos
159 • I am Comic
160 • Punk: The Early Years
161 • Solitary Man
162 • $5 a Day
163 • Car Wash
164 • Muppets from Space
165 • Live & Let Die
166 • The Football Factory
167 • Diary of a Bachelor
168 • Blitz
169 • Paul
170 • Bill Cunningham New York
171 • Born to Be Wild 3D
172 • The Ides of March
173 • Appropriate Adult
174 • Carnaby Street
175 • Freedom Fries: And Other Stupidity We'll Have to Explain to Our Grandchildren
176 • Midnight in Paris
177 • Special When Lit: A Pinball Documentary
178 • The Bank Shot
179 • Horrible Bosses
180 • Gnomeo & Juliet
181 • POM Wonderful Presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
182 • Notting Hill
183 • Billion Dollar Brain
184 • The Odd Couple
185 • Velvet Goldmine
186 • The Seduction of Joe Tynan
187 • Life in a Day
188 • Bridesmaids
189 • Zapped!
190 • Selling God
191 • The Hound of the Baskervilles (1978)
192 • The American President (1978)
193 • Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest
194 • Morning Glory
195 • Bond Girls are Forever
196 • The Invention of Dr NakaMats
197 • TiMER
198 • A Hard Day's Night
199 • Housewife, 49
200 • Captain America: The First Avenger
201 • Live Nude Girls Unite!
202 • Page One: Inside the New York Times
203 • Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis
204 • That Riviera Touch
205 • Wild Target
206 • Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
207 • Mary & Max
208 • A Christmas Story
209 • Four Lions
210 • The Krays
211 • Dive!: Living Off America's Waste
adding
212 • Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Two years ago my English friend Nev came to stay with us for the holidays and he and I went to see the first Guy Ritchie incarnation of Holmes. I hated it. Nev's staying with us again this year and once again there was another Holmes movie out, so in the interest of ironic 'tradition' we went to see it this morning. And, in keeping with that same tradition, it too was utter pants.
213 • The Inbetweeners Movie
Hilariously funny OTT TV show takes its finale to the big screen with predictably disappointing results. The joke stretched a little bit too thin IMHO

[euro60]

136. Hugo 3D (Rave West Chester)
137. The Muppets (Springdale Cinema de Lux)
138. Melancholia (The Neon, Dayton)
139. Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (Rave West Chester)
140. Young Adult Springdale Cinema de Lux

I've seen a bunch of movies while on vacation in Florida....

141. The Final Destination (HBO)
142. Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (HBO)
143. Hall Pass (HBO)
144. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (HBO)
145. Dinner for Schmucks (HBO)
146. The Losers (HBO)
147. Strangers No More (HBO)
148. Despicable Me (HBO)
149. The Artist (Burns Court Cinema, Sarasota, FL)
150. Le Havre (Burns Court Cinema, Sarasota, FL)
151. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Regal Gulf Coast Town Center Statium, Ft. Myers, FL)

Most of the HBO movies I would not have gone to see in the theatre. For some reason I really enjoyed Hall Pass a lot more than I should've (laughing out loud a number of times), and same for Despicable Me.

The Artist is going to get a major Oscar puch. I liked it, but it's a one-of-a-kind phenomenon, truly a silent movie in B&W with a premise that cannot be repeated.

Le Havre is a great "little" French film that made a minor splash at this year's Cannes festival.

Dragon Tattoo: I have seen the original Swedish version, and let's just say that the Hollywood remake didn't screw it up. It doesn't add much to the original version either, though, so one has to wonder again what the point of it is (thinking right away of of Let Me In/Let the Right One In). Perhaps the biggest surprise was the outstanding musical score by Trent Reznor, who truly has found a second career with this (he also The Social Network). I have ordered the original extended Swedish movies (3 hrs. each) on DVD from Amazon, and cannot wait to see those in the weeks to come. Meanwhile, if you have not seen the original Sewdish versions, you will not be disappointed with the Hollywood remake.

Last post of the year I think. See you on the other side!

[Kenneth Toilethole]

1. The Red Balloon
2. Pony Express
3. Toy Story 3
4. Winter's Bone
5. June 17, 1994
6. Joan Rivers: A piece of work
7. Greenberg
8. The Two Escobars
9. 45365
10. Adventureland
11. Restrepo
12. Royal Tennebaums
13. Inception
14. The Fab Five
15. Exit Through the Gift Shop  
16. Never Let Me Go
17. Catfish
18. Get Low
19. The Girl who played with Fire
20. Waiting for Superman
21. Wild at Heart
22. I Love You, Phillip Morris
23. Its a Funny Story
24. The girl who kicked the hornet's nest
25. The Social Network
26. Havoc
27. Metropolis
28. The King's Speech
29. Inside Job
30. Hall Pass
31. Cedar Rapids
32. North by Northwest
33. True Grit
34. Rango
35. Win Win
36. Catching Hell
37. The Best & Brightest
38. Bobby
39. Pearl Jam Twenty
40. Dead Ringer
41. Neil Young Heart of Gold
42. The Dotted Line
43. Earth vs. The Flying Saucers
44. Have A Little Faith
45. Finding Nemo
46. Hogfather
47. Ides of March
48. Everything Must Go

49. The Descendants - Nicely acted little story. Everyone does a decent job especially Robert Forster. At first he comes across as an unbelievable dick, but once I thought about how I would react in that situation, I kinda thought I would probably be even MORE of a dick. I have to give it to the director Alex Payne who captured the perfect scene with the daughter in the pool. Very difficult to watch but that is exactly how the reaction is in that situation.

[c-lando]

49. The Descendants - Nicely acted little story. Everyone does a decent job especially Robert Forster. At first he comes across as an unbelievable dick, but once I thought about how I would react in that situation, I kinda thought I would probably be even MORE of a dick. I have to give it to the director Alex Payne who captured the perfect scene with the daughter in the pool. Very difficult to watch but that is exactly how the reaction is in that situation.

I think Forrester offered up my favorite performance in the film too. I hope I have occasion some day to use his line before delivering a punch.

[Cockney Rebel]

1 • Von Ryan's Express
2 • Prick Up Your Ears
3 • Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
4 • The Sugarland Express
5 • Hubble
6 • True Grit (2010)
7 • The Social Network
8 • Please Remove Your Shoes
9 • Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
10 • Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist & Rebel
11 • Assault on a Queen
12 • Big Trouble
13 • The American
14 • Hopscotch
15 • Easy Rider
16 • Tapped
17 • Four Beats to Bar No Cheating
18 • Fish Don't Blink
19 • Five Easy Pieces
20 • The King's Speech
21 • Nowhere Boy
22 • Red
23 • Jazz on a Summer's Day
24 • The Cruise
25 • The Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle
26 • Unstoppable
27 • Georgy Girl
28 • I Like Killing Flies
29 • Inside Job
30 • V for Vendetta
31 • Local Hero
32 • Friends (with Benefits)
33 • I Need that Record!
34 • Bill Hicks - Sane Man
35 • Abba: The Movie
36 • Stir Crazy
37 • Showgirls
38 • Still Bill
39 • Rabbit Hash
40 • Exit Through the Gift Shop
41 • Emmanuelle 7
42 • Dagmar's Hot Pants, Inc.
43 • Emmanuelle
44 • When in Rome
45 • Dogging: A Love Story
46 • Private Lessons
47 • Batman: The Movie (1966)
48 • Love & Death
49 • Dave Chappelle's Block Party
50 • Glastonbury: The Movie
51 • The Bounty Hunter
52 • Sixty Six
53 • Lemmy
54 • 127 Hours
55 • Abigail's Party
56 • Nuts in May
57 • Thirst
58 • The Parking Lot Movie
59 • Carry on Columbus
60 • Looking for Eric
61 • Beer Wars
62 • Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
63 • Goal! 2: Living the Dream
64 • Four Lions
65 • How to Train your Dragon
66 • Fritz the Cat
67 • Coma
68 • Clockwise
69 • Striptease: The Greatest Exotic Dancers of All Time
70 • Made in Dagenham
71 • Carry on Cruising
72 • Moog
73 • Strange Brew
74 • The Square Peg
75 • Cashback
76 • I Want Candy
77 • Oh, God! Book II
78 • United
79 • Another Year
80 • How Do You Know
81 • The Italian Job
82 • No Strings Attached
83 • Nine Songs
84 • Naked States
85 • X-Men: First Class
86 • Love and Other Drugs
87 • The Maiden Heist
88 • Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
89 • Beyond the Poseidon Adventure
90 • Comic Book Villains
91 • The Comedians of Comedy
92 • Grumpy Old Men
93 • 911 In Plane Site
94 • Anita & Me
95 • Flawless
96 • The Illusionist
97 • Bullshot
98 • Striptease
99 • Super 8
100 • Spice World
101 • Rockers
102 • Turning Green
103 • Make Mine Mink
104 • The Box
105 • Red Riding 1974
106 • Red Riding 1980
107 • Red Riding 1983
108 • Naked Ambition: An R-rated look at an X-rated industry
109 • Made in Britain
110 • Man, Woman and the Wall
111 • McLibel
112 • Invictus
113 • OSS 117 - Lost in Rio
114 • The Rocky Horror Picture Show
115 • The Gumball Rally
116 • A Technicolor Dream
117 • Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
118 • The Man with Two Brains
119 • Kill Your Idols
120 • Cleopatra Jones
121 • PlayTime
122 • The Weather Girl
123 • Sex Machine
124 • Novo
125 • The Hot Rock
126 • White Palace
127 • The Happy Hooker
128 • Black Snake Moan
129 • Skyline
130 • The First Turn-On!
131 • The Adjustment Bureau
132 • The Suicide Tourist
133 • Source Code
134 • Rubber
135 • Dr Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine
136 • Waitress!
137 • The Lincoln Lawyer
138 • Starter for Ten
139 • Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
140 • Disaster on the Coastliner
141 • The Van
142 • The Driver
143 • If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium
144 • Hall Pass
145 • BASEketball
146 • Absolute Beginners
147 • 4192 - The Crowning of the Hit King
148 • Casino Jack
149 • Spread
150 • 8 Mile
151 • The Conversation
152 • The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish
153 • Love Ranch
154 • OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
155 • Fever Pitch
156 • The Knack... and How to Get It
157 • Bagdad Cafe
158 • Microcosmos
159 • I am Comic
160 • Punk: The Early Years
161 • Solitary Man
162 • $5 a Day
163 • Car Wash
164 • Muppets from Space
165 • Live & Let Die
166 • The Football Factory
167 • Diary of a Bachelor
168 • Blitz
169 • Paul
170 • Bill Cunningham New York
171 • Born to Be Wild 3D
172 • The Ides of March
173 • Appropriate Adult
174 • Carnaby Street
175 • Freedom Fries: And Other Stupidity We'll Have to Explain to Our Grandchildren
176 • Midnight in Paris
177 • Special When Lit: A Pinball Documentary
178 • The Bank Shot
179 • Horrible Bosses
180 • Gnomeo & Juliet
181 • POM Wonderful Presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
182 • Notting Hill
183 • Billion Dollar Brain
184 • The Odd Couple
185 • Velvet Goldmine
186 • The Seduction of Joe Tynan
187 • Life in a Day
188 • Bridesmaids
189 • Zapped!
190 • Selling God
191 • The Hound of the Baskervilles (1978)
192 • The American President (1978)
193 • Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest
194 • Morning Glory
195 • Bond Girls are Forever
196 • The Invention of Dr NakaMats
197 • TiMER
198 • A Hard Day's Night
199 • Housewife, 49
200 • Captain America: The First Avenger
201 • Live Nude Girls Unite!
202 • Page One: Inside the New York Times
203 • Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis
204 • That Riviera Touch
205 • Wild Target
206 • Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
207 • Mary & Max
208 • A Christmas Story
209 • Four Lions
210 • The Krays
211 • Dive!: Living Off America's Waste
212 • Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
213 • The Inbetweeners Movie
adding
214 • Party Party
The traditional last movie of the year in the Gibbs' household, its New Year's Eve theme as intrinsic as "A Christmas Story" is to Santa's big day a week earlier

I watched 69 more films in 2011 than 2010. Must get a life. Or a 69.

[Poolio]

Hell, aim for both. 

[MissKitty]

1. Von Ryan's Express
2. Prick Up Your Ears
3. Hubble
4. True Grit
5. The Social Network
6. Please Remove Your Shoes
7. Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
8. Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist, and Rebel
9. Big Trouble
10. The American
11. Hopscotch
12. Easy Rider
13. The King's Speech
14. Nowhere Boy
15. The Great Rock & Roll Swindle
16. Unstoppable
17. Inside Job
18. V for Vendetta
19. Local Hero
20. I Need That Record
21. Bill Hicks: Sane Man
22. Rabbit Hash
23. Exit Through the Gift Shop
24. Dagmar's Hot Pants
25. Love & Death
26. Glastonbury: The Movie
27. Sixty-Six
28. Lemmy
29. 127 Hours
30. Abigail's Party
31. Nuts in May
32. Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
33. How to Train Your Dragon
34. Fritz the Cat
35. Made in Dagenham
36. Moog
37. The Children of Chabannes
38. Rashoman
39. Anita & Me
40. The Illusionist (French:  L'Illusionniste)
41. Rockers
42. The Box
43. Red Riding 1974
44. Red Riding 1980
45. Red Riding 1983
46. Naked Ambition: An R-rated Look at an X-rated Industry
47. Made in Britain
48. Man, Woman and the Wall
49. McLibel
50. Invictus
51. Technicolor Dream
52. Kill Your Idols
53. Cleopatra Jones
54. Adjustment Bureau
55. Source Code
56. Rubber
57. Dr. Goldfoot and his Bikini Machine
58. The Lincoln Lawyer
59. Starter for Ten
60. Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
61. The Van]
62. If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium
63. BASEketball
64. 4192: The Crowning of the Hit King
65. Bagdad Cafe
66. Microcosmos
67. I Am Comic
68. Punk: The Early Years
70. Blitz
71. Paul
72. Bill Cunningham New York
73. Born to be Wild 3D
74. The Ides of March
75. Appropriate Adult
76. Carnaby Street
77. Special When Lit: A Pinball Documentary
78. POM Wonderful Presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
79. Life In A Day
80. Bridesmaids
81. Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest
82. The Inventions of Dr. Nakamats
83. Timer
84. A Hard Day's Night
85. Housewife, 49
86. Page One: Inside the New York Times

87. Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
88. Mary & Max
89. A Christmas Story
90. Four Lions
91. Dive!: Living Off America's Waste
92. Party Party

[va_vacious]

New to me movies are bolded

1. Tron: Legacy  Fun to watch, but no plot. Spent a great deal of time wondering about the first movie.
2. Country Strong Really liked- good story, loads more music than I expected, and decent singing
3. Sweeney Todd  This movie has LOTS of singing--- why was I surprised? The blood, less so.
4. The King's Speech My favorite movie so far this year! Loved, loved, loved it.
5. Miss Potter  Renee Zellweger (SP?) was dreadful, Ewan McGregor was not.
6. True Grit Truly good- and a fun time. Clever, with great dialogue that I cannot remember
7. I Love You Phillip Morris very entertaining
8. Take Me Home Tonight Topher Grace was delightful, and it was a great deal like a Savage Steve Holland of the '80s.
9. Paul Sweetly sci-fi.  Jason Bateman steals every scene he's in.
10. Hope Springs a rather obscure Colin Firth film co-starring Heather Graham.  Not so good
11. Troy Good grief, why haven't I seen this before?  Brad Pitt and Eric Bana were pretty, pretty, pretty, and I get to continue my Garrett Hedlund movie theme! (He's Patrocles)
12. Once Upon a Time in Mexico  Oh, Antonio, you're dreeeeeaaaamy. And Johnny, you aren't so bad either.
13. The Adjustment Bureau  How did I forget this one?  Really liked it.
14. United Not good to watch before getting on a plane. David Tennant nailed it, though.
15. The Other Guys I wish Will Farrell's character had stayed ordinary, but it was fun, and so over the top. Good rental.
16. Prom A very Disney experience. They kept talking about how "perfect" Prom had to be. I don't remember anyone actually saying that Prom would be perfect/the apex of one's high school career. Very sweet, and appropriate for kids. The grown-up version would have been better, though.
17. Casanova surfed the 'net through most of it... pretty costumes and Venice, should have seen it when it came out: would have liked it better.
18. Craig Ferguson: Does This Need to be Said? It's his stand-up show, but pretty funny. Bonus for being filmed at the TN performing Arts Center, where I have been many times!
19. Young at Heart Doc about a 70yo and up chorus that sings contemporary songs (Sonic Youth, Coldplay) as well as James Brown and the Clash. Really liked their version of "Fix You". Found it to be a little heartbreaking, but you don't expect a documentary about octogenarians to have everyone live happily ever after.
20. Wet, Hot, American Summer- love this movie. Reminds me of my summer camp (the clothes, especially) and has so many people in it. Paul Rudd, Janene Garafolo, Bradley Cooper, Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, Ken Marino, Amy Pohler, David Hyde Pierce...
21. One Week- A love letter to Canada starring Pacey, I mean Peter Bishop, ok, it's Joshua Jackson...
22. A Life Less Ordinary- Ewan McGregor is a kidnapper, Cameron Diaz is the kidnappee, Holly Hunter is an angel (and sharpshooter), directed by Danny Boyle. Sweet film, and Cameron is so pretty in this movie- she isn't all gaunt and scary looking like she is now.
23. Super 8 Fun film-- Elle Fanning was great, but there was not enough Kyle Chandler
24. Glory Road- Why isn't Josh Lucas more famous?
25. Clerks II- it was like going back to 1995, and I'd forgotten how crude these movies are.
26. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2   Now I'm really wanting to see "Severus Snape and the Really Awesome Movie" (featuring Maggie Smith as the under-utilized Prof. McGonigle) I'm sure there is stuff on the cutting room floor that would make a great mini film of them.
27. Hereafter Plus: Matt Damon. Minus: French subtitles. It turned out to be a love story, which was a little disappointing. Very quiet- no background music except in the cooking classes and at the very end. Not bad for a free redbox rental.
28. Friends with Benefits Not very good. Timberlake tried to get out of acting by singing in every other scene.
29. Crazy Stupid Love  Where have you been all my life, Ryan Gosling? Really liked the Gosling/Carell interaction.
30. Dangerous Beauty I think I saw this movie earlier this year-- it was called "Cassanova"
31. Follow That Bird - weird '80s movie where Big Bird gets sent to live with the Dodo family. I was babysitting, don't judge.
32. It Might Get Loud I might have to go listen to all Led Zepplin albums since I've never really listened to Jimmy Page.
33. The Bourne Identity-- annual August watching.
34. Fright Night opening scene scared the heebee-jeebies out of me. Glad the rest of it didn't! Fun, light, pop-corny.
35. The Men who Stare at Goats Interesting... if a bit odd.
36. Miracle Coach should have been played by Kyle Chandler. That is all.
37. Little Women (1933) I still think Jo and Laurie should have ended up together. And Beth still dies, making me cry.
38. The Good Guy Wall Street guy, and how his life falls apart. Andrew McCarthy says "fuck" a whole lot, and is what Blaine turned in to.  Also, Scott Porter and Alexis Bleidel play age-appropriate roles!
39. The Namesake An Indian-American (Kal Penn) discovers who he was named for. It was ok, but I was distracted through most of it.
40. Drive Agree with Lando that it felt very '80s. Definitely gory, which bothered me a little.
41. Saving Grace If I can't be in the UK, I'll just watch movies from there!
42. Born Romantic rom-com set in a London salsa club. s'aright
43. Fast Five Terrible acting, but if you're watching this for the acting, you're at the wrong movie. Needed more action, less plot.
44. August Rush a rather sweet fairy tale about music.
45. Role Models- It's Wet, Hot, American summer in different roles! Paul Rudd can do no wrong.
46. Snow White- She looks a little anime-esque, doesn't she?
47. Run, Fat Boy, Run not the best Simon Pegg movie.
48. The Muppets Incredibly earnest, very sweet, and who doesn't love Kermit?
49. How Do You Know? Saw this earlier this year, wanted it to be better than it was, especially with the cast it has.
50. Water for Elephants love the elephant.
51. Little Voice  Where my Ewan McGregor obsession came from.
52. Cinderella  Has anyone else noticed that the king has gigantic hands?
53. Cinderella  (again!) the king still has gigantic hands, and Cinderella is kind of a wimp.
54. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo(foreign) so glad I had read the book, because otherwise none of it would make sense.
55. The Girl Who Played with Fire  Really couldn't remember if this was the second or 3rd in the series. A good place holder. Still an incredible film.
56. New Year's Eve Cast of thousands, and they were not paired up as I thought they should be. Cute, in a non-award winning way. And who makes Michelle Pfeiffer unattractive?!?
57. Wall-E  gets better each time
58. Bridesmaids really thought the Wiig/Rudolph friendship was the best part.  

59. Run, Lola, Run Great flick- was worth the wait.
60. Friday Night Lights  I love the series, and this was so much like it- I kept looking for the series regulars beyond Mrs. Coach, who still has the best hair.

Started and ended the year with Garrett Hedlund!

[Dan]

Movies seen in 2011 (new movies in bold):
1. Inglourious Basterds
2. Blade Runner
3. Black Swan
4. Scent of a Woman
5. Tron: Legacy
6. Three Amigos
7. Up in the Air
8. The Three Musketeers
9. District B13
10. Underworld
11. Pineapple Express
12. The Kids Are All Right
13. The Social Network
14. The Damned United
15. The Expendables
16. Taken
17. Easy A
18. The Town
19. Scott Pilgrim vs The World
20. Eddie Izzard's Dress To Kill
21. Grindhouse: Deathproof
22. Raiders of the Lost Ark
23. House of Flying Daggers
24. The Four Feathers
25. This Is Spinal Tap
26. Winter's Bone
27. The Hurt Locker
28. Red
29. Blue Valentine
30. The Fighter
31. 127 Hours
32. Sucker Punch
33. The Killer
34. Hanna
35. The King's Speech
36. Hot Fuzz
37. Body Snatchers
38. Major League
39. Before Sunrise
40. Sunshine
41. Fast and Furious
42. Fanboys
43. The International
44. Never Let Me Go
45. Hard Boiled
46. Voyage of the Dawn Treader
47. THX 1138
48. BloodRayne
49. Jonah Hex
50. Scott Pilgrim vs The World
51. Bridesmaids
52. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
53. Duplicity
54. Before Sunset
55. Dick Tracey
56. Strange Brew
57. Once In A Lifetime
58. Idiocracy
59. La Femme Nikita
60. X-Men: First Class
61. I Am Number Four
62. Dakota Skye
63. Seven Pounds
64. Invictus
65. The Restless
66. Robin Hood (2010)
67. Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead
68. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
69. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 1
70. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2
71. The Adjustment Bureau
72. Elizabethtown
73. Fast Times at Ridgemont High
74. A Life Less Ordinary
75. The Beach
76. It's Kind Of A Funny Story
77. Cowboys and Aliens
78. Point Break
79. Shaun of the Dead
80. Crash
81. Crazy, Stupid Love
82. TiMER
83. Sherlock Holmes
84. Good Morning, Vietnam
85. Faster
86. American Graffiti
87. Senna
88. Colombiana
89. She's Out Of My League
90. Stardust
91. The American
92. True Grit (2010)
93. Cop Out
94. The Crying Game
95. 3:10 To Yuma
96. Super
97. Notting Hill
98. Thor
99. Good Will Hunting
100. Conan O'Brien Can't Stop
101. Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back
102. Moneyball
103. Your Highness
104. Jet Li's Fearless
105. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World
106. Unstoppable
107. Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle
108. Tron: Legacy
109. Crazy Heart
110. Blade Runner
111. Body of Lies
112. Red Riding Hood
113. Paul
114. Red State
115. Sugar
116. Captain America: The First Avenger
117. Machete
118. Glengarry Glen Ross
119. Puss In Boots
120. Fast Five
121. 9
122. Stardust
123. Unforgiven
124. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
125. Tower Heist
126. Eddie Izzard's Dress To Kill
127. The Blind Side
128. The Pursuit of Happyness
129. Attack the Block
130. The Muppets
131. Road House
132. The Legend of the Shadowless Sword
133. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
134. Gandhi
135. Serenity
136. Better Off Dead

My most films viewed since we started keeping track. Thanks, Netflix.

[c-lando]

1. FROM HELL - 01/01/11 - TiVo - 1 out of 5
2. STONED - 01/01/11 - Blockbuster DVD - 1 out of 5
3. THE DEEP - 01/02/11 - Encore Mystery - 3 out of 5
4. PLEASE GIVE - 01/02/11 - dvd from library - 3.5 out of 5
5. THE CRAIGSLIST KILLER - 01/04/11 - Lifetime movie - 2 out of 5  
6. BROKEN EMBRACES - 01/10/11 - dvd from library - 5 out of 5 - LOVED!
7. JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK - 01/10/11 - Showtime - 4 out of 5 - Joan hustles, bobs, and weaves!
8. THE KING'S SPEECH - 01/08/11 - AMC Parkway Point - 3.5 out of 5 - great perfomances, especially from Geoffrey Rush.
9. COUNTRY STRONG - 01/15/11 - AMC Parkway Point - 1.5 out of 5 - CHEESY and SILLY. My friend picked this one. I told HIM that I get to pick something with fewer costume changes next time.
10. THE FIGHTER - 01/22/11 - AMC Pkwy Point - 3 out of 5 - For being a professional fighter, it sure felt like Micky Ward was a pu$$y in his home life. He couldn't tell anyone no. Maybe he just seemed so whipped because Marky likes to whine. I don't know. But, I liked this for the reasons I thought I would - Melissa Leo and Christian Bale. Oh, and the fight scenes.
11. SUMMER HOURS - 01/23/11 - Sundance - 4 out of 5 - I'm a Juliette Binoche junky. She is the reason I TIVO'd this but she's not in the film very much. I still really enjoyed it. It felt like a true glimpse of real life.  
12. THE DAMNED UNITED - 01/26/11 - HBO or Showtime - 4 out of 5 - Loved it. Michael Sheen is nearly always fantastic. Plus, it was fun to see Al Capone in a curly, blond wig.
13. BLUE VALENTINE - 01/29/11 - AMC Phipps - 4 out of 5 - You will walk out of this feeling like you need to go to couples' therapy, even if you're not in a couple.  It's a CRIME that Gosling was not nominated.
14. DEPARTURES - 01/30/11 - dvd borrowed from Virgil - 5 out of 5 - one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen. SEEK IT OUT!
15. THE LOST VALENTINE - 02/05/11 - Hallmark CBS movie - 2 out of 5 - Betty White played it straight and did a fine job. I almost could have liked this if J. Love didn't have those STUPID false eyelashes. It was fun seeing Sweet Auburn on screen, if it was in habited by white people. Oh, and the girl who played young Betty White was hot.
16. I KNEW IT WAS YOU: Rediscovering John Cazale - 02/05/11 - 3 out of 5 - great idea, poor execution.
17. A SMALL ACT - 02/13/11 - HBO - 3 out of 5
18. THE GOOD NIGHT - 02/19/11 - Blockbuster dvd (that I've had for more than a month) - 0 out of 5 - RUBBISH! Do not bother. Fantastic crap. Piece of crap movie. HATE.
19. UNKNOWN - 02/19/11 - AMC Parkway Point w/Victor - 1.5 out of 5 - I adore Diane Kruger. Everything else and everyone else bored me. I had more hope for this since I actually liked TAKEN.
20. THE BACK-UP PLAN - 02/26/11 - dvd from library - 1 out of 5 - I actually really liked J. Lo in this movie. But, I cannot stress enough how AWFUL the single women's support group was in this film. Offensive. Stupid. Gross. AWFUL!
21. SEX & THE CITY 2 - 02/27/11 - dvd from the library - 2 out of 5 - I liked the relationship stuff with Big and Carrie. Liked all the shiny clothes. Loved the best gay wedding EVER. Everything else was blah.
22. TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT - 03/05/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe - 1.5 out of 5 - All of the 1.5 is for Topher Grace. Dude really is charming on screen and I hope someone sees him in this and starts casting him in more stuff. The rest of the movie was pants. I hate when peopel throw a bunch of stuff from the 80s together and think that's OK. Michael Jackson's BAD did not come out at the same time as Madonna's LIKE A VIRGIN. There would be no reason for both to be all-over a record store wall. No dude in mall punk clothing would be screaming "BOOOOOYYYYYYEEEE!". Ugh. Perv alert: You get to see Angie Everhart's b00bies. I think she bought a new pair for the occasion. But, she's still GORGEOUS if you're into ginger wenches.
23. CONVICTION - 03/06/11 - dvd from Blockbuster online - 3 out of 5 - now that's some sibling dedication.
24. THE RAMEN GIRL - 03/13/11 - dvd from Blockbuster online - 1 out of 5 - had a great idea but they did nothing with it. Needed to show more of Japan and more of the FOOD!!!! Good to see some of the cast from DEPARTURES though.
25. I AM LOVE - 03/18/11 - dvd from library - 2.5 out of 5 - gorgeous movie but I couldn't really connect with it at all. BEWARE: SWINTON MUFF!
26. THE LINCOLN LAWYER - 03/19/11 - AMC Parkway Point - 4 out of 5 - I really love this character from the books and Mr. L-I-V-I-N brought him to life in an unexpected but entertaining way. Great music and superb supporting cast (never saw W.H. Macy in the investigator role but he was spot-on!) except for Ryan Phillipe. He seemed to be smiling or smirking in some very inappropriate places. I still haven't figured out if that was him in character or if each occasion was a glimpse of him coming out of character.
27. MARTY - 03/20/11 - Tivo from TCM's Oscar month - 4 out of 5 - I want to give Marty a hug and I want a poster of him hitting that bus stop sign.
28. MACGRUBER - 03/26/11 - HBO - 2 out of 5 - I couldn't help but chuckle EVERY TIME they mentioned Val Kilmer's character's name. I wouldn't watch it again but it did make me laugh.
29. THE TOURIST - 04/03/11 - Redbox dvd - 2.5 out of 5 - not awful but not very good. Angelina Jolie was stunning in this movie. Seriously. I don't think she's ever looked more lovely. Yowza.
30. HIS WAY - 04/06/11 - HBO - 3 stars - This was the film version of the Jerry Weintraub book that I read earlier this year. It was fun to hear these stories from his mouth (and the mouths fo others) and to see footage of the Sinatra show, The Main Event, along with other clips. JW might suck his own dong a bit too much, but I'd probably scream all of my stories from the rooftops as well if I lived 1/2 of his life.
31. HALL PASS – 04/08/11 – AMC Barrett Commons 24 – 0 out of 5 – It was THAT bad. Seriously, totally AWFUL.
32. YOUR HIGHNESS – 04/09/11 – AMC Parkway Pointe – 4 out of 5 – It delivered on what I wanted from this movie. I was giggling in the first 5 seconds.
33. LIMITLESS – 04/09/11 – AMC Parkway Pointe (double-dip) – 0 out of 5 – We double-dipped and saw this for free. I’m very glad I didn’t pay for this turd.
34. THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE – 04.15.11 – dvd from library – 4 out of 5 – I thought the effects were amazing for this movie. Great cast. LOOOOOOOOOVED Jay Baruchel. Nic Cage was even good. FUN STUFF! Much better than I expected.
35. THE KARATE KID – 04.17.11 – dvd from library – 3 out of 5 – The bullying in the beginning REALLY got to me. Maybe because of his age. I was surprised by my own reaction to that. Rating bumped up ½ star for the great training sequences. The whole “jacket on/jacket off” thing is so laughable. Tell me how they never thought about the fact that they were saying JACKET OFF in a kids movie like a BILLION TIMES!!?!!?!!?
36. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON - 04/22/11 - borrowed DVD - 4.5 out of 5 - started off slow for me but then I REAAAAAALLY loved it. Fantastic story. Good lessons. LOVED IT! I want a Toothless.
37. TANGLED - 04/23/11 - borrowed DVD - 2 out of 5 - meh.
38. HANNA - 04/23/11 - AMC Parkway Point - 2.5 out of 5 - Loved all the hand-to-hand combat stuff. Dug the music. But, it was a little too soulless or something. Maybe it was Cate Blnchett's fault. It seemed like she was trying too hard to give us Clarice Starling + Hannibal Lecter in the same body. Overkill.
39. THE BLACK DAHLIA - 05/01/11 -library dvd - 2 out of 5 - loved the book and didn't really care for the movie. It felt like a lowsy CHINATOWN/LA CONFIDENTIAL wannabe.
40. ALL GOOD THINGS – 05/07/11 – Netflix streaming – 1 out of 5 stars – Ryan Gosling and Frank Langella in a movie based on a true story? Sure, I’ll give it a go on the streaming Netflix. Blech. I only give this 1 star because Kirsten Dunst was FANTASTIC in her role. However, everything else about this movie was horrible, horrible, horrible. I can never remember the name of this title for more than 5 seconds after I look it up. It immediately leaves my brain. Seriously, don’t watch it.
41. SOURCE CODE – 05/08/11 – AMC Barrett Commons 24 w/my mom – 4 out of 5 stars – Ignore the “science” in this movie and watch it for the thriller aspect and the character interaction. Great performances really help pull off this movie that should not have worked on any level.
42. BRIDESMAIDS – 05/14/11 – Starlight Six Drive-In – 3 out of 5 – I want Maya Rudolph to have my babies!
43. INCENDIARY – 05/15/11 – Netflix Streaming - 1 out of 5 - I'm thinking this movie had a billion re-writes and they could never figure out which story they wanted to tell. Is this a thriller? Is it a social-commentary on the post 9/11 world? Is it about the loss of a child? Is it about a chav slapper getting what she deserves? No clue. PERV ALERT. Michelle Williams in the tub and Ewan McGregor's butt (but who hasn't seen that like a billion times!!!).
44. THE ART OF THE STEAL – 05/15/11 – Netflix Streaming - 3.5 out of 5 - I'm happy someone told this story to all of us outside of the Philly area.
45. CROPSEY – 05/15/11 – Netflix Streaming - 2 out of 5 - A documentary film that is interesting but it doesn't answer many of the questions that it asks. That Willowbrook footage is beyond disturbing. I kind of wish I'd never seen it, especially after reading certain things about mental wards in the HENRIETTA LACKS book.
46. THE OTHER GUYS – 05/29/11 – Netflix – 0 out of 5 – a previously abandoned movie that should have stayed abandoned.
47. COCO BEFORE CHANEL – 06/04/11 – DVD from library – 3 out of 5
48. MEGAMIND! – 06/04/11 – DVD from library – 4 out of 5
49. X:MEN ORIGINS – WOLVERINE – 06/04/11 – HBO – 2 out of 5 – terrible special effects. AMAZING Liev Schreiber.
50. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES – 06/05/11 – AMC Parkway Pointe w/ THE GREG – 3 out of 5
51. SERENITY - 06/09/11 - dvd from Blockbuster (now going for same rate as their kiosks $1/day) - 4 out of 5 - This would have been a 5 if the good doctor's whole demeanor didn't piss me off. He seemed SO different from the series that it REALLY threw me off. Otherwise, fantastic way to honor the fans and the series. I am VERY surprised that I did not have REAVER nightmares. Browncoats forever!!!!
52. RANGO – 06/11/11 – The Fabulous Fox Theatre – 3 out of 5 – always a great experience to see a film at the Fox. The projection was fantastic. Much better than I expected. The movie was fun and trippy but a little too long.
53. SUPER 8 – 06/12/11 – AMC Parkway Pointe – 4 out of 5 – The kids really sold this movie for me. First time I’ve had that GOONIES vibe from a gang of kids in a movie since THE GOONIES. Make sure you stay around for the credits. You don’t have to wait till the end of the credits. The fun stuff plays DURING the credits.
54. X-MEN: FIRST CLASS – 06/12/11 – AMC Parkway Pointe – 4 out of 5 – I liked this as much as I would ever expect to like an X-MEN movie. James McAvoy continues to move up my crush list. Good lord.
55. THE MECHANIC – 06/17/11 – free Blockbuster Express rental – 2.5 out of 5 – not bad for a Jason Statham movie. It tried to have a little style and be a little more bloody than your standard action fare. Thumbs up as a free rental.
56. NEVER LET ME GO – 06/19/11 – free Blockbuster Express rental – 4 out of 5 – I thought the film was nearly as haunting as the book. Great performance from Carrie Mulligan.
57. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS - 06/26/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe with Victor - 3.5 out of 5
58. THE COMPANY - 07/01/11 - dvd from library - 3 out of 5 - Neve Campbell and Robert Altman? That's an odd pairing. This movie is what BLACK SWAN would have been without all the psycho-sexual craziness.
59. TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON - 07/06/11 - used Fandango LivingSocial coupon at newly renovated Merchant's Walk - 2.5 out of 5 - So, I didn't hate this. That was the biggest surprise. Other surprises were Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, and Patrick Dempsey. I had no idea they were in the movie. It was about 45 minutes too long. I enjoyed the long battle scenes and thought that this movie probably had the best live action special effects that I have ever seen (except for a scene or two where things just looked way too fake).
60. A MATTER OF TASTE – SERVING UP PAUL LIEBRANT – 07/08/11 – HBO documentary ON DEMAND – 4 out of 5 – LOVED!
61. HARRY POTTER & THE GHASTLY HALLOWS PART 1 – 07/08/11 – Blockbuster Express – 3 out of 5 – DARK POTTER!
62. WALL STREET 2: MONEY  NEVER SLEEPS – 07/09/11 – HBO – 3 out of 5 – Better than I expected.
63. HORRIBLE BOSSES – 07/10/11 – AMC Parkway Pointe with Victor and Amanda - 2 out of 5 – I’m being nice by giving this 2 stars. Without Charlie Day, I would have given it 1 star.
64. BAD TEACHER – 07/10/11 – AMC Parkway Pointe with Victor - .5 out 5 – Jason Segal helps get them on the board.
65. SEX CRIMES UNIT – 07/14/11 – HBO documentary ON DEMAND – 3 out of 5 – learned a lot about the evolution of how sex crimes are treated and prosecuted in this country with NYC leading the way in most of the changes.
66. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS Part II – 07/16/11 – AMC Parkway Pointe with THE GREG – 4.5 out of 5
67. A FAMILY IS A FAMILY IS A FAMILY – 07/17/11 – OnDemand – 3.5 out of 5
68. BECOMING JANE – 07/23/11 – dvd from library – 2 out of 5 (all points awarded to McAvoy)
69. LETTERS TO JULIET – 07/24/11 – dvd from library – 2 out of 5 (all points deducted as a result of making Gael Garcia Bernal second fiddle to ANYONE on the planet)
70. CRAZY, STUPID LOVE - 07/31/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe with Amanda, Gwynner, and Victor - 3 out of 5 - didn't love it like I thought I would. However, there is a surprise twist that I did NOT see coming at all. I was impressed by that - BIG TIME. But, I didn't feel like that played honestly. None of the relationships really rang true to me which is probably why this didn't hit a homerun like it should have.
71. THE HELP - 08/12/11 - AMC in Hamilton (with my aunts and Mom - YAY!) - 2.5 out of 5 - Viola Davis and Bryce Dallas Howard were fantastic in their roles but I thought Emma Stone was miscast. Also, I think it's impossible to watch a movie set in this time period and not feel like MAD MEN has already done it better when it comes to sets, costumes, etc. Loved the book but the movie was blah. Enjoyable enough as an early matinee with the ladies in my life but I wouldn't go out of my way to watch it again.
72. UNSTOPPABLE - 08/21/11 - dvd from library - 4 out of 5 - TRAIN PR0N!!!!! I liked this SO MUCH MORE than I thought that I would. Great pace, good performances, lots of choo-choos. Maybe I like this more than most people because I grew up watching trains with my dad and I knew he'd love this movie too. Couldn't wait to call him and tell him to go rent it NOW.
73. LIFE AS WE KNOW IT - 08/21/11 - 1 out of 5 - I mostly watched this because Josh Duhmel can be charming and I wanted to see all of the spots they used in Atlanta.
74. SORRY, THANKS - 08/20/11 - Sundance/TIVO - 2 out of 5 - I love Wiley Wiggins and found him to be lovely in this movie. But, the lead actress had some serioulsy strange bug eyes. Also, the ending was AAAAAAAAWFUL. Hipsters with movie equipment.
75. I AM NUMBER FOUR - 09/02/11 - Blockbuster Exproess kiosk - 3 out of 5
76. THE DEBT - 09/04/11 - AMC Parkway Poine w/Mom - 3 out of 5
77. THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR - 09/05/11 - DVD from library - 3 out of 5 - most awkward love scene EVER. So many shots of the World Trade Center. I'd give this movie a 5 out of 5 just for the shot of Max Von Sydow's reflection in the rain puddle as he is walking across the street. GORGEOUS.
78. THE GUARD - 09/10/11 - Lefont Sandy Springs - 3.5 out of 5 - Lots of fun. Brenden Gleeson is FANTASTIC in this role. I also have a bit of a b0ner for Mark Strong and he was also very good in this film.
79. THE INVENTION OF LYING - 09/14/11 - HBO - 2.5 out of 5 - a little fat kid with a snubbed nose just wants to be loved.
80. DRIVE - 09/18/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe - 4 out of 5 - moody Gosling, lingering shots with no quick edits/cuts, dreamy music, insanely amazing car chase scenes, cheesy moments, serious GORE, and Albert Brooks as a bad guy. Kinda. This felt like it was straight out of the 80s and I loved nearly every minute of it that didn't include Carrie Mulligan. I dig her but I didn't understand her in this movie. Maybe part of the problem was that the film crapped out on us in the theatre just as these two were getting to know each other. Next thing we knew (after 15 minutes of them tinkering with the machine), they were hanging out together. No idea if they ever slept together. Also, I saw this movie with a person who doesn't see a lot of movies. She kept telling me that she didn't understand what was going on. This is why I usually see movies alone.
81. MONEYBALL - 09/23/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe w/The Greg - 4 out of 5
82. KILLER ELITE - 09/25/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe w/Victor - 3.5 out of 5 - I think the critics were too harsh. This was very enjoyable as a smarter than average action flick. Especially as one that stars Jason Stayfumm.
83. IN TIME - 11/06/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe w/Victor and Amanda - 2 out of 5 - I loved the idea and the design and the cast. But, it didn't quite come together. Very cold (as sci-fi can be) but something was definitely missing.
84. TOWER HEIST - 11/12/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe with Amanda and my Mom - 1st 2/3rds of the movie get a 4 and the last 1/3rd gets a 1 - Started off with a bang and kept my attention until it stumbled onto a big WTF that I couldn't get past.
85. J. EDGAR - 11/19/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe with Victor - 2 out of 5 - Great make-up and terrific performances but booooooorinnnnnnngzzzzzzzzz.
86. CHASING PAPI - 11/23/11 - OnDemand - 1 out of 5 - blonde Sophia Vergara
87. THE DILEMMA - 11/23/11 - HBO or Encore - 0 out of 5 - Winona Ryder = anti-b0ne in this movie
88. THE MUPPETS - 11/26/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe with Victor and Mindy - 5 out of 5 - LOOOOOOOOVED. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!
89. THE EXPRESS - 11/27/11 - dvd from library - 3 out of 5
90. THE DESCENDANTS - 12/03/11 - AMC Phipps Plaza with Victor - 4 out of 5
91. THE RITE - 12/10/11 - HBO - 1 out of 5 - Not bad, but not great. You don't see Tony Hopkins till the 25th minute in the film. A little spooky, a lot boring.
92. HUGO in 3D - 12/11/11 - 4 out of 5 - I was the only person in the theatre watching this. It was fun to watch a movie about the love of movies in a theatre all to myself. Great use of 3D. Terrific performance from the young boy. I didn't love EVERYONE in the cast and I thought it could have been a bit shorter. But, those are small complaints. It was a fun, memorable day at the movies. I think that was the finest love letter to film since CINEMA PARADISO.
93. YOUNG ADULT - 12/17/11 - AMC Pkwy Pointe with Victor - 3 out of 5
94. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (US) - 12/26/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe with Victor - 4.5 out of 5
95. FAST FIVE - 12/28/11 - dvd from library - 3 out of 5 - Shiny, fun action movie.

96. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL - 12/31/11 - AMC Parkway Pointe - 4 out of 5