My Top Ten (or is it 11?) For 2011: Movies To Look For
Published on January 30th, 2011 in: All You Need Is Now, Issues, Listicles, Movies, Staff Picks, Top Ten Lists |By Lisa Anderson
The beginning of the New Year brings new movies to look forward to. Not all of them are Oscar contenders, and not all of them will be as good as they look. I’ll probably be skipping the overrated and (hopefully) played-out gimmick of 3D whenever possible. Here are the ten movies that I’m most excited about, and in most cases, I’m not alone.
1. Red Riding Hood (March)
From director Katherine Hardwick, whose wistful, nuanced style caused me to enjoy Twilight in spite of myself. This time around, Red is a young adult (played by the incomparable Amanda Seyfried), the huntsman is her love interest, and the Big Bad Wolf is a Werewolf. Gary Oldman is also on the scene as a repressed inquisitor. In one clip from the trailer, Red is seen wearing what appears to be a medieval shame mask. This promises to be a rich text, folks.
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (July)
Most people who will bother to see this one know what to expect . . . and will bring their Kleenex. This is the final cinematic installment of the Harry Potter series, which has taken its young leads from childhood to young adulthood. The first Deathly Hallows movie, released last month, did not disappoint, making the best of the series’ most sluggish moments. I only hope we’re spared the sight of Remus Lupin whining to Harry about his disappointing family life, a development that I found unnecessary and out-of-character.
3. The Cabin in the Woods (TBA)
This is Joss Whedon’s homage to horror movies and all their tropes. . . with his own subversive twist, of course. There’s not an official release date yet, but IMDB states it will be released this year. Its distribution has been delayed, first by MGM’s bankruptcy, then by an expensive push to convert it to 3D. Whedon acolytes will be standing in line along with horror aficionados, especially considering the participation of Dollhouse alums Frank Kranz and Amy Acker.
4. Water for Elephants (April)
I’ve written about this one before. The book tells the story of a young veterinary student who literally runs away and joins the circus after tragedy leaves him alone in the world. Its story unfolds through the frame of his life as an old man. Whatever you think of the lead, Robert Pattison, the book leads me to believe that this may be some of the best material he’s had to work with . . . and the trailer makes it look like a tearjerker.
5. Cowboys and Aliens (July)
The trailer to this one was shown before movies this past December. If you aren’t familiar with the source material (a 2006 graphic novel), the disjunction in the title is sure to catch your attention. While movies usually have space aliens coming to Earth in the present or the future, this time, they try to invade 1873 Arizona, a premise I find intriguing. With Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford appearing together, though, Cowboys and Aliens may have more craggy features than are actually allowed in one film.
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2 Responses to “My Top Ten (or is it 11?) For 2011: Movies To Look For”
February 2nd, 2011 at 11:37 am
“I’ll probably be skipping the overrated and (hopefully) played-out gimmick of 3D whenever possible.”
Amen, sister! Unless it’s an action-packed thriller, why do we need the nauseating effect of 3-D in every movie? Perhaps this toy will make way for holodecks, &c, but everything is moderation? Maybe? Please?
” The first Deathly Hallows movie, released last month, did not disappoint, making the best of the series’ most sluggish moments.”
Yeah, my only complaint was that they could have used a bit of the “waiting and traveling and hiding” time for more character development outside the Trio.
“This is Joss Whedon’s homage to horror movies and all their tropes. . . with his own subversive twist, of course.”
That of the happy couple in the beginning, one of them will be murdered in the most bloody way possible?
“It takes place in a future where the gene for aging has been shut off, but people must pay to live more than a year beyond 25. If done right, this should pose interesting questions about money, science, and mortality, not unlike those Niccol posed in Gattaca and The Truman Show.”
Ooo, that’s an interesting topic for conversation. There’s definitely a doorway to discuss our society’s fear of death and disrespect of aging. Hmm….
And one last thing, Pooh has a very interesting cast listing, see http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1449283/.
January 12th, 2012 at 10:05 am
[…] late 2010, I made a list of the 2011 films that I was most interested in. With many year-end retrospectives going on, I thought I’d go […]
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