Best of 2011

Well its a new year and thought I would do a year end list.  While I did not many of the  movies I wanted to see this year and haven't seen many of the movies getting all the attention this time of year I still thought it would be fun to do a list.

1. The Help- while it has been called a white guilt film it is still one of the best movies I have seen this year.  Great acting and good story. 
2.  Bridesmaids- The funniest movie I have seen all year.
3.  Circumstance-One of the best movies I saw at Sundance in 2011 even it won the Audience Award and got a very limited release in theatres but wish more people had got a chance to see it. It is about two girls in Iran who fall in love.  The very limited release probably had something to do with it being in a foreign language and about lesbians. 
4.  Martha Marcy May Marlene-Another Sundance movie but this one did get a wider release and more recognition.  With great acting especially by newcomer and younger Olsen sister Elizabeth Olsen.
5.  Attack the Block-In a year filled alien invasion  movies this was one of the most original and coolest looking one. 
6.  Red State- Who knew that Kevin Smith could write an action thriller with one of the best endings of the year. 
7.  Sound of my Voice- Another great movie I saw at Sundance but did not get released but hopefully one day it will. About an investigative reporters that infiltrate a cult.  I heard the writers originally planned this as a trilogy hope it works would love to see more.
8. and 9. Rise of the Planet of the Apes and X-Men: First Class- Two of the best action movies of they year.
10.  Hanna -  Another cool action movie with an awesome soundtrack from The Chemical Brothers. Hope it gets a Best Score nod at the Academy Awards.   

Honorable Mention:
Although I didn't want to put it in the top 10 the movie that I probably talked about the most this year was The Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence.  With it's over the top gore and violence was a big topic of conversation. 

Best Documentaries
1.  Rebirth - About the lives of those affected by the 9/11 attacks. It was very emotional and inspiring.
2.  The Interrupters - Caught this one at the Milwaukee Film Fest about ex gang members who try to stop violence in Chicago. Very timely and impotrant film.
3.  Marathon Boy - Missed it at the Milwaukee Film Fest but caught it on HBO. Very interesting documentary about an Indian boy who like to run or did he?  What starts off as a interesting story about what appears to be an over enthusiastic coach turns into a political thriller.  Never seen a documentary take such a weird turn of events.
4.  Becoming Santa - A fun little documentary about a guy who decides to be Sana one year and his different experiences.
5. Make Believe- About a group of kids who enter a magic contest in Las Vegas.  The coolest thing about seeing this at the Milwaukee Film Festival was hanging out with some of the kids afterward.

Honorable Mention:
Another movie that I talked about a lot but didn't make my list was Hot Coffee. Very interesting story but a little too one sided. 

Two Cent Tuesday: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Two Cent Tuesday where I give my review of a movie I have seen recently

My mom was still in town and this time instead of seeing a Best Picture Oscar contender I dragged her to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes. When I first heard that this movie was coming out I thought great another Planet of the Apes movie and thought it sounded stupid but when I saw the first preview I changed my mind and knew I had to see it. The movie won't be nominated for Best Picture but might get a nomination for special effects.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes or ROTPOTA as I like to call it is a direct sequel to the original Planet of the Apes. Although if you never saw the original this movie is a spoiler to the end. But if you saw the original and ever wondered how the apes conquered Earth this movie explains it. While trying to find a cure for Alzeimers Diesese a scientist (James Franco) test a new drug on some apes. It turns out the drug works too well and not only reverses the diesese but increases cognitive function in normal brain cells. He brings home Ceasar a son of one the chimps the drug was tested on. He shows incredible intelligence a becomes like a pet. When something happens and Ceasar is placed in a ape refuge he is mistreated he organizes an uprising that grows to more then just the refuge and they end up taking over San Francisco. At the same time a deadly virus is released that only affects humans. Leading to what will probably be another sequel.

The movie was pretty good despite being a little slow in the beginning. Of course you are waiting the whole movie for the apes to actually rise up. But once they do it is a treat to watch. The action is amazing and the apes look cool. It is one of the best action movies of the summer. The motion captured actors playing the apes did a great job especially Andy Serkis as Ceasar. I also liked how they tied it in to the original except for the part when the guy says the most classic line from the original "take your hands off me you damned dirty ape" no one can say it like Charlton Heston.
Overall Rating: B+