Worst Movies of 2011

As the year comes to a close and we prepare to welcome in the new year, I thought I’d look back and reflect on this year’s disappointing and at times just plain bad and painful to watch. So here are what I consider to be the worst movies of 2011.

Honorable mentions: Green Lantern, The Hangover Part 2

5. Contagion

I don’t get why so many people and critics seem to like this movie. There has been awards talk since it came out. I personally found it to be the most boring movie I saw all year. I honestly don’t know why I didn’t walk out, I really should have. It’s supposed to be about a global plague killing most of the population but I feel they did a bad job portraying that. Watching this movie was like sitting in a hospital waiting room; you couldn’t be more bored, you’re watching sick people and just want to go home.

4. Something Borrowed

This movie is extremely clichéd and has one of the most frustrating endings I’ve ever seen to a romantic comedy. The characters are all very unlikeable and the movie is billed as a comedy but I don’t think I even smiled once. Never before have I seen a romantic comedy where none of the characters have anything in common and shouldn’t be friends much less “in love.”

3. Season of the Witch

This movie is just plain bad from start to finish. To start, it is not about a witch, but rather a demon. Yeah, this is an exorcism movie. Then we get into the bad effects, horrible writing and the actors who seem like they could care less to be in this movie. Nick Cage and Ron Perlman seem like they are just reading their lines off a piece of paper throughout. Everything about this movie is just plain bad.

2. Hall Pass

Not a single funny moment in this supposed comedy. The story is terrible, all of the characters are terrible, everything that happens in the movie is not funny. For an R rated comedy, all of the “humor” is for 7 year olds. It is uncomfortable to watch most of the time and disgusting the rest. I can’t find one redeemable moment in this movie. This is another movie that I should have just walked out of.

1. Twilight: Breaking Dawn

I didn’t even see this movie but if it’s anything like the other movies, it had to be terrible. These movies have some of the worst special effects I’ve ever seen. Vampires that sparkle… enough on that. Terrible writing, bad acting, some of the worst characters ever written, just everything about this movie is bad. Not to mention that in this movie I hear that Edward basically brutally rapes Bella, gives her a c-section with his TEETH then wolfboy falls in love with the BABY!!! So thank you, Stephanie Meyers, for writing a book/movie that hates women yet gets them swarming to read/see it.

Short Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Grade: A+

A man, with the help of a mysterious investigator, track down the killer of a powerful man's granddaughter.

Amazing. One of the best of the year. Better than the book. Hard to watch at times but worth it.

Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgård and more.

Attention span must last 2 hours 40 minutes to enjoy.

Podcast: Episode 34

Head over to sutmspod.wordpress.com to listen to the latest episode of Shut Up! The Movie's Starting, the official podcast of Cucu for Movies.

In this episode Michael and Russell discuss The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (In theaters now), In the Loop (on Netflix Streaming) and Toy Story. They also discuss The Artist, Scrooged, The Grinch, The Santa Clause, Jingle All the Way, Christmas episodes of TV shows, the trailers for Prometheus and The Hobbit and so much more!

Short Review: The Artist

Grade: A+

An actor struggles to accept the changing times.

Pure genius. Amazing, funny, earnest. A brave move making a silent film in 2011 but it completely works.

Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell, Missi Pyle and more.

Attention span must last 1 hour 40 minutes to enjoy.

Anticipation of 2012

As the new year approaches, I thought I would share the 10 movies I am looking forward to most in the new year.

10. Wanderlust

This looks to be one of the most promising comedies of 2012. I am usually not a fan of Jennifer Aniston but she won me over in Horrible Bosses and she looks pretty funny in this. Paul Rudd is one of the most consistently funny actors out there.

9. Skyfall

I am always up for a new Bond movie. I loved Casino Royal but was disappointed by Quantum of Solace, either way I think Daniel Craig has quickly become my favorite Bond. Javier Bardem is going to be the villain and I hear that this movie will be a return to more classic Bond style themes and villains.

8. G.I. Joe: Retaliation

This sequel looks to be far better than the first. They are down playing Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson looks to be taking the lead, Cobra Commander is back with his normal helmet and that shot in the trailer of the COBRA flags hanging off the White House really makes me happy. Not to mention that Bruce Willis is in it.

7. John Carter

This movie looks great. It's about a civil war soldier who is taken by aliens to help them fight a menace threatening civilization on Mars. It sounds a bit cheesy but the trailer looks amazing and the fact that it's written and directed by the regulars at Pixar has me all the more excited.

6. Snow White and the Huntsman

This looks like a great twist on the classic tale. In this version the queen hires the huntsman to kill Snow White and bring back her heart so she can live forever. But when the Huntsman meets Snow White, he decides to train her instead to lead an army to fight the evil queen. Looks awesome.

5. Prometheus

This prequel but non-prequel to Alien has Ridley Scott back writing and directing this sci-fi epic. They just released the teaser trailer and it looks amazing. All I really have to say is Space Jockeys.

4. Brave

The Pixar I love is back with a new movie. They have written a fascinating looking movie about a young Scottish Warrior Princess. This movie looks like it will totally make up for making Cars 2 in 2011.

3. The Hunger Games

I just recently read these books and they have me very excited for this movie. I love the trailer and it looks like they are doing a great job with the material. Jennifer Lawrence is perfect casting for Katniss Everdeen and the rest of the cast, which includes Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland and more, are all amazing as well. The only thing that worries me is that a proper adaptation would be R and I know they are shooting for a PG-13 rating.

2. The Dark Knight Rises

Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight blew us all away in 2008 and we have all been waiting with anticipation for his final installment. It will finally be here in the summer of 2012 and even though I have only seen the trailer, it looks as though Nolan has created the Darth Vader for 21st century with his vision of Bane.

1. The Avengers

The movie I have been waiting for. Combining some of my favorite movies of the last 4 years, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America, into one glorious epic. It will also have Jeremy Renner in it as Hawkeye and that trailer makes it look like it will be full of surprises. To top it all off it's written and directed by Joss Whedon.

Holiday Movie Guide

Looking for a movie to see over the holiday weekend? Let me make some suggestions:

1. Muppets for family good times
2. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol for the action fiends
3. Sherlock Holmes for conspiracy theorists
4. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for those looking for a mystery
5. Tin Tin for adventurists
6. Darkest Hour for sci-fi enthusiasts
7. Young Adult for... Well, young adults
8. We Bought a Zoo for family togetherness
9. Hugo for fans of film
10. War Horse for people who think horses are people

Short Review: Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Grade: A+

After being framed then disavowed by his government, Ethan Hunt and his new team must complete one last mission to clear their names.

Great action. Many fun and funny moments scattered throughout. Scenes in IMAX are spectacular. An amazing addition to the franchise.

Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton and more.

Attention span must last 2 hours 13 minutes to enjoy.

Short Review: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Grade: A

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson face off against Professor James Moriarty.

Fun. Funny. Good action. Awesome visual style. Just as good as the first.

Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris, Noomi Rapace and more.

Attention span must last 2 hours 9 minutes to enjoy.

Podcast: Episode 33

Head over to sutmspod.wordpress.com to hear the most recent episode of Shut Up! The Movie's Starting, the official podcast of Cucu for Movies.

In this episode Michael and Russell discuss the movies Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (available in theaters now), Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (available on IMAX now) and Vanishing on 7th Street (available on Netflix Streaming). They also discuss Young Adult (See it in theaters now), Mission: Impossibles 2 and 3, Die Hard, Christmas Vacation, the trailers for The Dictator, Men In Black 3, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Rock of Ages and The Dark Knight Rises as well as a possible sequel to Top Gun and so much more!

Short Review: Young Adult

Grade: A

A woman returns to her small hometown to try to rekindle a romance with her ex boyfriend who is now married with a new daughter.

Great movie. Very funny. Amazing performances from the cast.

Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson and many more. Written by Diablo Cody (Juno) and directed by Jason Reitman (Up in the Air).

Attention span must last 1 hour 35 minutes to enjoy.

Short Review: The Sitter

Grade: C

A college student babysits three kids and they all go on an adventure.

A poorly executed R rated adaptation of Adventures in Babysitting. Funny at times.

Jonah Ray, Sam Rockwell and more.

Attention span must last 1 hour 25 minutes to enjoy.

Short Review: Hugo

Grade: A

A boy befriends the granddaughter of an old filmmaker.

Extremely well done. Great story. Director Martin Scorsese's best work. A film that loves film.

Asa Butterfield, Ben Kingsley, Chloe Grace Moretz, Sacha Baron Cohen, Emily Mortimer, Christopher Lee, Jude Law and many more.

Attention span must last 2 hours 7 minutes to enjoy.

Podcast: Episode 31

Head to sutmspod.wordpress.com to hear the latest episode of Shut Up! The Movie's Starting, the official podcast of Cucu for Movies.

In this episode Michael and Russell discuss the movies Hugo (in theaters now) and Morning Glory (available on Netflix Streaming). They also discuss Robert Zemeckis’ A Christmas Carol, Batman Returns, Lars and the Real Girl, possible remakes for Starship Troopers and Scarface, American gangster movies vs British gangster movies, Romancing the Stone, Sacha Baron Cohen, Harrison Ford, movies that love movies and so much more!