Best Movies of 2011

Thanks to Netflix, I saw many good films in 2011.

I also saw a lot of mediocre and average movies, and a few stinkers along the way as well. Thankfully, the law of averages kept those down. So without further ado, here they are, the 10 best that I got to sit through in 2011, and wouldn't mind watching again at some point in the future.

10) Gnomeo & Juliet - Romeo & Juliet as told by garden gnomes that come to life. I know, it sounds ridiculous, and yet it worked somehow. Blame the great vocal talent or the undeniably infectious Elton John soundtrack... but it was a fun ride!

9) Horrible Bosses - Crude, crass, and hilarious. 3 average joes suffering at the hands of the worst bosses imaginable. So why not kill them, and end their suffering? Well, the best laid plans often result in the worst possible scenarios unfolding, and that held true here as well.

8) Easy A - Lying to create a reputation takes on a whole new level of skill and artform as Emma Stone plays the bad girl who is willing to sell her reputation to help out some less fortunate souls seem more macho.

7) Soul Surfer - Fact based narrative of a young surfer who loses an arm to a shark, but vows to continue to surf. For those that are averse to religion, be prepared to have it in your face. That is her lifestyle though, and it comes with the story. Like Tebow, you cannot have the story without the faith.

6) Morning Glory - It's nice to see Harrison Ford in a good movie again. It seems like so long. That it is in a romantic comedy was a nice twist, and nicer still that they didn't have a May-December romance between him and Rachel McAdams. Fun movie about the perils of early morning talk-shows.

5) Fast Five - The Fast and the Furious franchise was re-invigorated when the original cast returned in the last movie. This time, they hit the NOS and brought back EVERYONE from every film, and had the cinematic vision to bring The Rock in as well. The climactic car chase? Pure popcorn awesomeness!

4) RED - Retired. Extremely Dangerous. Bruce Willis leads a team of over-the-hill CIA operatives on a mission to save themselves from being wetworked. Not everyone survives (sniff) but it's a fun ride, and makes me hope for a sequel.

3) X-Men: First Class - Talk about playing fast and loose with the X-Men franchise... they make this one up entirely as they go... yet somehow it works. I'm all for more along this lines anytime they are willing.

2) Thor - I never thought I would see Marvel's Thor on display in my lifetime. It was thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. Bring on Thor 2: Mjolnir Boogaloo!

1) Captain America: The First Avenger - I was taken aback when they tapped Chris Evans to play Steve Rogers. After all, he did a perfect Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four movies. Could he pull this off? The Greatest Avenger, ever? Yes, he could. Yes, he did. He gave Steve Rogers the heart and soul which show that the person behind the mask has been, and always will be, greater than the costume that the person wears. They had me when he jumps on the grenade during basic training. The rest was gravy.

Delicious gravy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZxRuxSZfzw