You Should See This
	1.	Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
		See this in IMAX if you have the chance - totally worth it. Best movie of the year (that I've seen) and best action in years. Nobody does intense like Cruise.
	2.	Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game
		Speaking as someone who doesn't follow baseball closely, the directing did a great job of turning an esoteric story into an interesting one.
	3.	The Artist
		I thought this was brilliantly refreshing. I've been a fan of Dujardin since seeing him in OSS 117, and Bujo was great. Fantastic closing number.
	4.	Something Borrowed
		This was a real surprise. I liked the performances - especially Krasinski's - as well as some of the moments. It could have been standard romantic cheese, but it rose above.
	5.	Warrior
		I think I liked this more than The Fighter because it felt like it mattered more. Hardy is excellent.
	6.	Super 8
		This brought back great memories. Elle Fanning is in my top five favorite performances this year. But I downgraded the movie on second viewing - the characters don't impact the plot.
	7.	Drive
		This movie would have been right at home in 1990. It's a lot slower and more pensive than the trailer implies, but I liked it, especially the music.
	8.	Rango
		This was far more trippy than I was expecting from the trailers. The cgi is beautiful and there are some great brief moments, which makes it worth seeing.
	9.	X-Men: First Class
		Not as good as the best of the series, but Fassbender was excellent, and the cgi in Cuba was beautiful. January Jones was... not good.
	10.	The Descendants
		I liked Shailene Woodley and liked how she went from distant daughter to dad's ally. Nick Krause was hilarious as her stoner friend.
	11.	The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
		A scene-for-scene remake of the original Swedish version, slightly less graphic though Rooney is more wan than Noomi. Long, but it gets better to the end.
	12.	Fast Five
		The addition of Dwayne Johnson as a defined enemy was a great choice. Good heist/chase film.
	13.	Puss in Boots
		I think Shrek 1 made me laugh more, but Puss is far better overall than the other Shreks. Humpty was a great character.
	14.	Martha Marcy May Marlene
		Elizabeth Olsen is excellent (and beautiful. and sexy as hell.) Hawkes is creepy good like Harry Dean Stanton in Big Love. For similar tone rent Somersault.
	15.	The Debt
		The was a good move except for the cast members being completely reversed (young to old) of what they should have been. Great performance by Jesper Christensen as the baddie.
	16.	The Help
		Nice balance between humor and drama here. My favorite scene has Aibileen clapping before she knows why.
	17.	Rio
		The sound in this movie is excellent.
	18.	Bridesmaids
		This was good, but far more unpleasant than the trailer would lead you to believe. It's really not Hangover for chicks.
	19.	Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
		This was dark and pretty but I did not like the ease in which Harry deals with the climax.
	20.	The Guard
		Gleeson's character is among my favorite of the year. This would also be a good double header with In Bruges.
If You've Got the Time
	21.	Albert Nobbs
		Janet McTeer is great, if a little too Gabriel Byrne at the start. Anybody who doesn't believe this could have happened is not aware of the real cases where it did.
	22.	Friends With Benefits
		I liked the story to this more than No Strings Attached. Like NSA, Kunis was better than Timberlake.
	23.	Caves of Forgotten Dreams
		A cave painting documentary might sound boring to some, but the artistry is amazing, so you should watch this. Still, Herzog lets himself get overly mystical.
	24.	Source Code
		I liked this a lot more than The Adjustment Bureau because the free will issue was set aside. The romance was touching though less believable than in TAB.
	25.	The Adventures of Tintin
		The lighting engine on the cgi was amazing, as were many of the action sequences. They should have just called this Young Indiana Jones though.
	26.	Another Earth
		Brit Marling is beautiful and depicts her character's emotional paralysis perfectly through her eyes. Also a good companion movie to Moon. (no joke)
	27.	No Strings Attached
		This may be my favorite Portman performance because she acts so natural. Her scene as a belligerent drunk is ridiculously funny.
	28.	Rise of the Planet of the Apes
		Much better than I expected it to be, this is a good prison movie.
	29.	Win Win
		I liked this, but not enough to call it among potential Oscar nominees. The kid is great.
	30.	Shame
		It's not shameful to see Shame - I'd call this a hard R instead of NC-17. The drama didn't quite reach me until the final segment really pays off.
	31.	Attack the Block
		This was surprisingly good, like an 80s monster movie updated with good production values. The kids are great with the dialogue, and the alien deep-black effect is nifty.
	32.	Cars 2
		I really liked the first Cars movie. This was amusing too.
	33.	Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom
		Visually, the peacock is a good choice of villain. The first one is funnier, but this is a decent movie too. The movie's theme makes it good Father's Day viewing.
	34.	Our Idiot Brother
		There's a Forrest Gump element of stumbling toward success here, but it's a lot of fun, and shines a light on the real screwups.
	35.	Beginners
		The trailer might imply a light hearted party atmosphere but there's a lot more sadness here. McGregor's pet dog is a lot of fun though.
	36.	Your Highness
		It's like one sketch after another as an excuse for dirty dialogue, and that's just fine with me.
	37.	Crazy, Stupid, Love
		Sure, I like makeover movies, male or female. I'd just like to hear them once say
	38.	The Mechanic
		The movie is slower than you'd expect for this genre, but I liked the choice of music and the concept of hitman apprentice.
	39.	Take Me Home Tonight
		I know this is one of those movies that everyone else abandoned, but I enjoyed it, especially since I'm pro-80's nostalgia.
	40.	Happy Feet 2
		Like the first, the visuals are amazing but the movie is weird, but I liked this one more. Pitt and Damon as krill were hilarious.
	41.	War Horse
		I was glad this wasn't the Bambi/Yeller downer I was expecting. I liked the temporary peace scene in the barb wire field, and the reuniting moment while the kid was blind.
	42.	Johnny English Reborn
		I'm always pleasantly amused by Atkinson's characters, and Rosamund Pike is lovely.
	43.	The Change-Up
		I laughed at the babies approaching danger in the kitchen, and Olivia Wilde is at her most desirable in her role.
	44.	Contagion
		Contagion could have been a great movie but too much Soderbergh killed the energy, and some of the dialogue sounded a decade old. (Blogosphere hero? really?)
	45.	A Good Old Fashioned Orgy
		This was fun. Leslie Bibb is criminally underused, but Tyler Labine brings the funny.
	46.	The Green Hornet
		Jay Chou is great as Kato, I'd watch a sequel just for him.
	47.	Kill the Irishman
		Stevenson is great as Danny Greene, though this is more a by-the-numbers history than real plot. Kilmer is sadly useless.
	48.	A Dangerous Method
		Mortensen was really good. Fassbender is starting to appear as if he's constantly on the edge of nervous breakdown in every performance. Knightley really went for it.
	49.	50/50
		I was iffy on how the movie started but I really liked how up in the air the ending was, and which way they took it.
	50.	The Muppets
		I wasn't too keen on the musical numbers (except the early montage), but wow the first act is bittersweet in its self awareness.
	51.	Tucker and Dale vs Evil
		This is a funny twist on the college-kids-in-the-woods horror genre, and Tyler Labine continues to be one of my favorite comic actors.
	52.	Terri
		I was impressed with Jacob Wysocki.
	53.	Limitless
		Movies like this work well inside their constructed boxes because you don't think about how unrealistic they would be in the real world.
	54.	Captain America: The First Avenger
		Just a touch better than Thor, though Thor was more lighthearted. Cap's villain was a distraction, looking like Kevin Bacon and sounding like Werner Herzog. Rent The Rocketeer if you haven't seen
	55.	The Eagle
		I liked the cinematography in this a lot. The dialogue was a little too modern in phrasing.
	56.	Battle: Los Angeles
		Eckhart continues to impress though this movie won't be well remembered. I rank it above Skyline but I liked Monsters more.
	57.	The Iron Lady
		I was surprised to discover this movie was more about aging and loss than it was about Thatcher's biography. It's quite the flip side of Cocoon. Streep is very good.
	58.	The Killer Elite
		This is a decent spy-vs-spy film, and a good companion to The Bank Job.
	59.	Burke and Hare
		This is a nice light comedy (despite the morbid story) and an interesting glimpse at a moment in history. The opening narration to the camera deflates it a bit though.)
	60.	Arthur
		I thought this was consistently funnier than Get Him to the Greek because of Brand's nonstop side comments.
	61.	Scream 4
		I hate the idea that I'm desensitized to this type of movie, but it felt old and boring, with very brief moments of suspense when the killer is taunting over the phone.
	62.	The Devil's Double
		I had to double check that Dominic Cooper played both parts.
	63.	In Time
		I got a vibe like The Island from In Time. I definitely liked the tone and the Phillip K. Dick-esque concept.
	64.	We Bought a Zoo
		This is not Damon's best performance, but it doesn't matter because the point is that it's family friendly, and everyone loves animals. Fanning again is impossibly, sincerely happy, and there's a
	65.	Thor
		This is a watchable popcorn movie, but Iron Man still tops the recent comic book hero genre. Idris Elba in particular was very cool.
	66.	Like Crazy
		Sad, but fairly honest.
	67.	Colombiana
		Imagine if Natalie Portman's character in The Professional stuck with it. That's this movie. (Saldana is good, but The Professional is better.)
	68.	Anonymous
		I really like that this theory was produced as a movie, but the acting here is lousy except for Redgrave.
	69.	Midnight in Paris
		I get the appeal, but again, I cannot relate to a rich writer's problems. And this looks like a ripoff of both L.A. Story and Picasso at the Lapin Agile - Steve Martin's works.
Worth A Look
	70.	My Week With Marilyn
		If this is how Monroe was, I like her even less, and I think one'd have to be ashamed of himself for falling for her. (her dance was cute though).
	71.	Take Shelter
		Yet another creepy Michael Shannon brainwarper. If you want a double header, rent Bug.
	72.	Tower Heist
		Eddie Murphy was entertaining.
	73.	Cowboys and Aliens
		I liked Craig's character and especially him opposite Ford, but the rest is a little ho-hum.
	74.	The Beaver
		This is the kind of movie that seems crazy on paper but actually works once you see it, but still, do you really want to see it? You just want the dude to get over his problems.
	75.	Mr. Popper's Penguins
		I found this pleasant. Particularly Ophelia Lovibond's use of many P words.
	76.	30 Minutes or Less
		I enjoyed the use of "The Heat is On" during their getaway chase. Why does Eisenberg always sound like he's ashamed of talking out loud?
	77.	Footloose
		I'm shocked to admit that I think this was better than the original (the original will still be a classic, of course) and it would have been even stronger in the Bush era.
	78.	Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
		The foot binding at the beginning of this movie is enough to ruin your evening.
	79.	The Rum Diary
		I don't get the point of this - it's like they shot the first act of a trilogy without any promise of a conclusion.
	80.	Horrible Bosses
		I wanted more naughty brunette Jennifer Aniston, but was willing to take what they offered. I liked Extract more for Bateman.
	81.	Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
		Interesting that Tom Hanks took this one with Radio Flyer already in his filmography. The trouble with these very personal stories is that they mean more to the character than the viewer.
	82.	The Sitter
		Adventures in Babysitting: still the king. (or queen)
	83.	Super
		Surprisingly violent, but surprisingly funny despite that. Ellen Page is funny as the too-eager sidekick.
	84.	Everything Must Go
		Slow and quiet, but pleasant.
	85.	The Thing
		This was decently thrilling. I can't remember if I'd say the first was better or not.
	86.	The Big Year
		I had to watch the movie before I realized that a Big Year referred to the world record in birding. This is the most esoteric movie of the year.
	87.	Fright Night
		Farrell is cool as a vampire and looks far from his Horrible Bosses character. David Tennant is a lot of fun as a pseudo-magician.
	88.	The Whistleblower
		A human trafficking drama with a "Forget it, Jake, it's Chinatown" vibe.
	89.	Happythankyoumoreplease
		Making a movie about how there are decent men in the world just makes it seem like they're that more rare.
	90.	A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas
		Once again, Neil Patrick Harris is the highlight. Harold's beer pong throw wsa funny.
	91.	Young Adult
		The problem with the character is we don't get a good indication of why she has this mental break. If you're going that way, just make her a serial killer. Oswalt was really good.
	92.	Cracks
		Eva Green is sinister, but I'm still hazy on her motivations.
	93.	New Year's Eve
		This was not as bad as Valentine's Day, I think because everyone can relate to Dec 31/Jan 1. Still, too many stories add up to less than one.
	94.	The Three Musketeers (2011)
		If you're going to be cheesy about it, go with the 1993 Disney Kiefer Sutherland version. I liked Ray Stevenson.
	95.	Coriolanus
		This was my first exposure to the play, and I found it interesting. I think it might have been better with modern dialogue. Lots of great acting here.
	96.	Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
		I napped a few times and managed to still follow the very drawn out story. Once again, Tom Hardy is the highlight.
	97.	The Big Bang
		This is one of those over the top action comedies along the lines of Smokin' Aces. From my memory, the visual effects were kind of cool.
	98.	Just Go With It
		I thought this would be a good premise, but it's rushed and creepy on screen. Still, Aniston is lovely, and I actually laughed at Kidman and Swardson.
	99.	Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
		More of the same, which is good or not worth it depending on your interest in the first one.
	100.	Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
		The slow-motion forest fight looked great, but this movie style is like a goofy Mel Gibson project.
	101.	Bad Teacher
		I'd heard some not-great things about Bad Teacher, but the vulgarity in the unrated version was entertaining. Still, I can't relate to a woman obsessed with getting fake boobs.
	102.	The Zookeeper
		Leslie Bibb vs. Rosario Dawson would be a tough choice. Hitch is better at this story though.
	103.	Real Steel
		There's a lot of the Rocky plot in this. It's not a great movie, but I'll admit I got sucked in by the climatic ending sequence.
	104.	I Don't Know How She Does It
		I was wary for a while that this movie was going to make a hero out of an absentee parent and wife, but ultimately the right message comes through: you *can't* do it.
	105.	The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1
		I cannot understand the appeal of this series. I've never seen a less romantic wedding in film.
	106.	W.E.
		Wallis laments "What have I done to deserve this?" as if leaving her husband for an affair makes her a victim. The movie wants to shine a light on fantasy but ends up creating just another fantasy of
	107.	Final Destination 5
		I'm not generally one for slaughter horror movies, but this series has always amused me with its inventiveness. The final scene brings it home.
	108.	Beautiful Boy
		Agony. Kind of worth it to cover the subject matter of parents of a murderer, but still uncomfortable to sit through. Not addressing the 'why' leaves you feeling incomplete, even if that's the po
	109.	We Need to Talk About Kevin
		Welcome to Psychoville where nobody's the mayor. Swinton is good but the back and forth cuts are irritating on top of a depressing story. Beautiful Boy is more palatable.
Not Worth Your Time
	110.	Soul Surfer
		Cheesy, but not overly religious, you'll get into the competitive surfing. For that though Blue Crush is a little better.
	111.	Paul
		I liked how they managed to reference just about every sci-fi icon, but the movie is just there.
	112.	What's Your Number?
		Anna Faris movies tend to start off a little unsure of their footing, but she always manages to win me over.
	113.	Daydream Nation
		There's a disjointed plotline running through the movie, but the mood will appeal to fans of movies like Adventureland.
	114.	Carnage (2011)
		I hate movies that are clearly single-room stageplays on screen, especially with cheap 'scene' bounding tactics like an interrupting phone call.
	115.	Bloodworth
		A little too woe-is-me, but Yoakum is good as always.
	116.	A Somewhat Gentle Man
		Skarsgard's romantic entanglements are the highlight.
	117.	Hugo
		I fell asleep. It's too precious. Give me Edward Scissorhands instead.
	118.	Hanna
		Leon (The Professional), The Fifth Element, and Serenity cover the genre enough - I'm getting tired of the encyclopedic-combat-machine-who's-also-a-delicate-flower character.
	119.	Straw Dogs
		This remake is more tolerable than the original but still unpleasant.
	120.	The Conspirator
		The point of a fair trial is important, but it's hard to care when the defendant looks so guilty.
	121.	Paranormal Activity 3
		This third entry can still make you jump even when you know it's coming, but it is just the same old thing now. The series confirms that we're all pretty much buffoons in front of and behind a camc
	122.	J. Edgar
		The makeup is lousy and the story is bumpy, but at least it inspires finding out the actual history.
	123.	The Dilemma
		I liked the way the dilemma was treated, but otherwise the movie is barely so-so.
	124.	Tree of Life
		The first half of this I liked in the way I liked Baraka - it's mesmerizing, with great sound. It would have also been a good family drama without Sean Penn and the last sequence.
	125.	Red Riding Hood
		The first half hour of this is kind of trashy good, with vivid colors and good tone. But then the werewolf speaks.
	126.	Shark Night 3D
		Stupid. If you're in the mood for this type of thing, rent Piranha 3D instead.
	127.	Water for Elephants
		As soon as the movie started with "tell me your story, oldtimer," it lost my attention.
	128.	Drive Angry
		This starts jaw-droppingly awful (especially terrible cgi) but is worth watching for Billy Burke, Fichtner, the muscle cars, and Heard's kick-ass attitude.
	129.	Hop
		Even among pat surrogate-hero storylines, this was paint by numbers. I was slightly amused by the chicks at the egg factory.
	130.	Elektra Luxx
		Joseph Gordon-Levitt is funny, and Palicki looks great.
	131.	Cedar Rapids
		Taken for what this is, it's lightly amusing.
	132.	Larry Crowne
		Hanks' character is too dumbed down for my taste, and Roberts' character really isn't likable.
	133.	Hall Pass
		I can't decide between Alexandra Daddario and Nicky Whelan. Of the guys, getting busted on the home monitors was the funniest.
	134.	The Ides of March
		This plays like someone just wanted a platform for their own campaign speeches. Primary Colors is much better.
	135.	Jane Eyre
		Okay, it's moody, but... I don't get the point. Also, this is not the supernatural thriller that the trailer leads you to think it is.
	136.	The Lincoln Lawyer
		This probably would have been a good read, but as a movie it feels too on-the-nose.
	137.	Green Lantern
		I think I have to put this at the bottom of this year's big budget superhero adaptations, despite being a big fan of Reynolds.
	138.	The 5th Quarter
		I admit I fastforwarded through this one. The most notable aspect is the unfortunate heil-esque salutes on the movie poster.
	139.	Potiche
		Pleasant but it didn't hold my interest.
	140.	The Hangover: Part II
		A paint by numbers sequel. Since you've seen this all before, it's more boring than funny.
	141.	Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
		I liked the little critters. The Tooth Fairy aspect is undeveloped, and I didn't like the end cycle reveal.
	142.	Margin Call
		The setting is too insular, like a stage play. And Irons in particular is more caricature than character.
	143.	Jack and Jill
		Lousy, of course, but kudos I guess for Pacino making fun of himself.
	144.	Immortals
		I like Greek mythology and I couldn't even understand what was going on here. The cinematography was mostly too dark to see anything.
	145.	The Adjustment Bureau
		I liked Damon's energy with the romance, and the music during his run, but not the free will debate.
	146.	Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides
		The pacing was better than the previous two sequels but the story was inconsequential. I liked the addition of Blackbeard but was annoyed they made him supernatural.
	147.	Transformers 3
		My first thought after the movie was: At least I didn't fall asleep like I did for Transformers 2. It's still all noise.
	148.	Abduction
		Sure, I had this spy kid fantasy once. When I was twelve years old. Lautner isn't so much a bad actor as he is a regular teenager who isn't a good actor.
	149.	Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer
		I understand what it's like to be a kid with big imaginary drama, but Judy Moody made me want to say: grow up already, kid.
	150.	In Her Skin
		Ruth Bradley very effectively portrays the creepy Caroline Reid Robinson.
	151.	Mars Needs Moms
		Another one of those too-lifelike animated movies that's all nifty but not enthralling.
What the Crap?
	152.	From Prada to Nada
		This is irritatingly paint by numbers. Movies like Pretty In Pink are far better at relationships and class issues.
	153.	James Cameron's Sanctum
		I can't believe that Cameron left his name attached to this - the dialogue is bad, the camera angles are bad, and the story isn't exciting.
	154.	Conan the Barbarian
		You know what would have been better? The story of old Conan, starring Stephen Lang.
	155.	Vanishing on Seventh Street
		They seem to have taken a bit of Ghost and made it into a full movie. Creepy atmosphere, but it's a little too preachy by the end for me.
	156.	Gnomeo and Juliet
		I couldn't follow this and eventually tuned it out. I guess I found the sound effects amusing.
	157.	Jumping the Broom
		The only likable character in this movie is Mike Epps.
	158.	The Roommate
		This did manage to be creepier than Single White Female because you know stalkers exist in college and there seems less of an escape.
	159.	Melancholia
		Other than some nifty cinematography, this is a completely morose, annoying downer. Rent Another Earth instead.
	160.	Apollo 18
		Lousy, but after The Blair Witch Project, most found-footage stories don't offer much.
	161.	Unknown (2011)
		It's worth pointing out that this just turns out to be a lame remake of Total Recall.
	162.	Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World
		I get that having a pregnant super spy kick butt is a play for laughs, but ugh, what a terrible way to start a movie.
	163.	Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
		Painful.
	164.	Season of the Witch
		They gave it all away too early. If they had kept you waiting a little longer I think it would have been better. Claire Foy is creepy good.
	165.	I Am Number Four
		Olyphant is better on Justified, and Teresa Palmer is a great addition who comes in too late in the movie. The movie drags too much in part because of the love story.
	166.	The Rite
		Apparently all you have to do to exorcise a demon is really *really* insist that it give up.
	167.	One Day
		So Hathaway's character is too lame to go after what she wants, blames the guy for not going after her, rejects him when he does, and we're supposed to see her as a tragic figure? Also her floating
	168.	Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son
		What a pile.
	169.	Beastly
		Apparently kidnapping is the way to a girl's heart. Neil Patrick Harris provides a tiny bit of much needed levity.
	170.	Priest
		Holy crap, batman! If there's a movie that demonstrates why you shouldn't bring a comic book to screen without some serious rewriting, this is it.
	171.	Sucker Punch
		I wanted to walk out of the theater more than once. Huge disparity from the great trailer. This is video gamer porn, and it's crap. The one positive: Abbie Cornish is bad ass.
RELEASED BUT HAVEN'T SEEN
	172.	The Art of Getting By
	173.	Answers to Nothing
	174.	Another Happy Day
	175.	Arthur Christmas
	176.	African Cats
	177.	Atlas Shrugged
	178.	Blackthorn
	179.	Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star
	180.	Dylan Dog: Dead of Night
	181.	Dirty Girl
	182.	The Darkest Hour
	183.	Dolphin Tale
	184.	The Flowers of War
	185.	The Grace Card
	186.	Glee the 3D Concert Movie
	187.	Insidious
	188.	I Melt With You
	189.	Justin Bieber: Never Say Never
	190.	In the Land of Blood and Honey
	191.	The Ledge
	192.	The Lion of Judah
	193.	Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family
	194.	Love, Wedding, Marriage
	195.	Miral
	196.	Monte Carlo
	197.	Machine Gun Preacher
	198.	The Music Never Stopped
	199.	Margaret
	200.	Project Nim
	201.	Peep World
	202.	The Smurfs
	203.	Trust (2011)
	204.	White Irish Drinkers

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