Well, it's come down to this: the top ten movies of 2011! Let's see what they are...

Honorable Mention: The Lion King in 3D

It's an honorable mention instead being actually ranked simply because it's a rerelease, but The Lion King deserves mention for its fantastic conversion. It felt like I was actually in Africa, as cheesy as that sounds. It was a great experience seeing The Lion King in theaters, and it deserves mention.

10. Source Code

A great sci-fi thriller, Source Code would be best described as Inception meets Groundhog Day. Jake Gyllenhaal puts in one of his best performances as the main character, and he makes all the plot twists believable, along with the smart script. I'm certain that in future years, this will go down as a sci-fi classic.

9. Winnie the Pooh

The only traditionally animated movie of the year was a very entertaining, witty, film. Winnie the Pooh was a lot better than the last traditionally animated Disney film, The Princess and the Frog. Pooh has only two flaws; the songs, the majority of which are forgettable, and the length, clocking into barely an hour, making it feel like more of an appetizer for another movie. The movie is perceded by a short, however, and it's a fun short. Winnie the Pooh itself though remains a fun movie, well worth seeing.

8. Moneyball

This was actually the first live-action movie I've seen with both Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, and there were great performances by both of them. Particularly, I have no idea why Jonah Hill isn't being considered for any awards in his role, where he plays against type as a smart analyst, and it pays enormously well. The script works wonders on this movie, with Aaron Sorkin writing well as always. The movie overall is fantastic, entertaining whether or not you're a fan of baseball.

7. War Horse

Although I have yet to see the other Spielberg film of the year, this one was amazing because it made me interested in a horse movie. I detest horse movies, all of them being incredibly formulaic and designed to pull heartstrings. Well, honestly, War Horse is incredibly formulaic and designed to pull heartstrings (although it didn't pull mine,) but it has an incredible score, great acting all around, amazing cinematography, and some fantastic war scenes. All of this added to the story, which actually follows the horse, not the rider as horse movies usually do. All in all, a great film worthy of the Spielberg name.

6. Super 8

This movie was actually in fourth place until I realized, unlike the following two films, I can't remember much from this. Being forgettable is one of a movie's biggest flaws, so that's why it's only at sixth. This film calls back to the 80's with a tone like Spielberg from that era, and it ultimately works. The story of a boy dealing with the death of his mother while dealing with his difficult father has been told many times, but it still feels fresh here. The humor in this movie is top-notch as well, the highlight, besides my number one quote of the year, being the end credit sequence of a stylistically sucky zombie home movie. Overall, a very good movie, but forgettable.

5. Kung Fu Panda 2

The rare sequel that completely eclipses the original in quality, Kung Fu Panda 2 is so good, I honestly count as the "Pixar-quality" animated movie of the year, after Cars 2 was a disappointment. Jam-packed with the most action I've seen in an animated movie, with the possible exception of the Incredibles, this movie also had an emotional heart to it, making it on par with How to Train Your Dragon... until one thing showed up to make it better than that film: traditional animation. Gorgeous traditional animation makes up Po's flashbacks, a fantastic aesthestic idea. Add in Gary Oldman giving the year's most memorable vocal perfomance, and you've got DreamWorks' best film to date. However, this will be the second year in a row where the best DreamWorks film willl still not be the best animated movie of the year. That honor goes to...

4. Rango

Yes, Rango is the best animated film of the year. Delightfully quirky, Rango ends up being both a great parody of Westerns, and a really good bonafide Western. One of the funniest movies of the year, Rango is simply bizarre in a funny way, and yet, still manages to get some deep messages in the film. Johnny Depp gives one of his best performances, vocal or live-action, as Rango, and this fantastic film is worth watching time and time again.

3. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Simply put, Ghotocol (as I've come to call it) is the best action movie in years. There's not a single minute of this movie that's boring, and most of that is due to the fantastic direction of Brad Bird, who I hope either goes back to work in animation immediately, or starts to work on another live-action movie immediately; he's great at both. The entire Dubai segment had me on the edge of my seat, and there's a lot of humor that's welcome in the movie. One of the best action movies in the last decade, Ghotocol has to be seen (in IMAX, perferably) to be believed.

2. Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America was the Indiana Jones 4 we should've got. More than that, it's also one of the best superhero movies ever made, comfortably sitting up with The Incredibles and The Dark Knight. Full of pulpy action and great characters, Captain America is a fantastic period piece that's extremely memorable. It's also the first midnight show I went to, and the first movie since Finding Nemo I've seen three times in theaters. Just a really good superhero movie. Hopefully, the Avengers can touch its quality.

1. The Muppets

This is how you revive a franchise! The Muppets is a great musical, a great comedy, and a fantastic movie. All the songs are incredibly catchy, hilarious, or both. The Muppets is also the funniest movie of the year, and I can't even think of a joke that falls flat. The movie also delivers an important message for today's society about how happiness should be able to overpower cynicism. Even without the message, The Muppets would be the best movie of the year, one that everybody should see at some point, and the best franchise revival ever.

For anyone who cares, here is my overall list of movies I saw this year, from best to worst.

1. The Muppets
2. Captain America: The First Avenger
3. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
4. Rango
5. Kung Fu Panda 2
6. Super 8
7. War Horse
8. Moneyball
9. Winnie the Pooh
10. Source Code
11. Thor
12. Puss in Boots
13. Real Steel
14. Cars 2
15. The Green Hornet
16. Contagion
17. Transformers: Dark of the Moon
18. Courageous
19. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
20. Green Lantern

Thanks for reading!

Every year has bad movies, but what were the worst of 2011?
5. Contagion

This had the potential to be a great movie, but it's truly the most disappointing film of the year. Matt Damon's plotline drags the whole film down, making it seem longer than it is. Marion Cotillard's scenes could've been cut as well, making it a much better film. As it came out, it's a long, boring film that leads you to wonder why it was made.

4. Transformers: Dark of the Moon

This is pretty much the opposite of Contagion. I expected nothing from this movie, but the first hour and a half I actually thought was decent popcorn fare. Then the last hour came, where there was non-stop action with no purpose at all, leaving me to look at my watch to see when it's done. Better than the second one, but still disappointing after the great beginning of the movie.

3. Courageous

I was dragged to this movie by my youth group, and although it was better than most low budget Christian films, it was still painfully average. Not really that much else to say here.

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

I wasn't expecting much from this movie, but it still was worse than I expected. Jack's a lone wolf, giving him a girlfriend didn't work at all. Jack's only funny if he's not the main character, which he was in this. The subplot with the mermaid and the missionary didn't work at all, and overall, the movie was a big disappointment. Only plus side was the 3D didn't give me a headache, and I saw it in the El Capitan, which was awesome.

1. Green Lantern

Terrible film. Just awful. Acting was atrocious on everyone, the CGI was awful, way too much time was spent on Earth, the makeup on Hector made me laugh, and I don't ask for much realism in my superhero movies, but this one just terrible in logic. One example is why would Hal think of a Hot Wheel track to save a helicopter from crashing instead of something a lot more obvious like a trampoline? Sure, both of them are cartoony, but one of them makes sense. Just a terrible film, and easily the worst of the year.

For something more positive, come back tomorrow for the top ten movies of the year!

I've had a headache all day, so no analysis today or pictures. 2011 has had great lines of dialogue in film, but what were the best?

5. The Green Hornet: “Trying doesn't matter if you always fail.” - Jack Reid

4. Rango: “No man can walk out of his own story.” - The Spirit of the West

3. Captain America: The First Avenger: “Are you sure you know what you're doing?” “Yeah. I punched out Adolf Hitler 200 times.” - Dum Dum Dugan and Steve Rogers

2. The Muppets “We all agreed, celebrities aren't people” – Lew

1. Super 8 “Drugs are so bad.” - Martin

Come back tomorrow for the five worst movies of the year!

2011 was a great year for music in film. Two scores primarily stuck out as great, Rango and Kung Fu Panda 2. Meanwhile, there was a load of good songs coming out, some from musicals, and some from regular movies. Let's take a look at the top five movie songs of 2011.

5. The Rainbow Connection, The Muppets



I guess this is sort of cheating, but it needs mention. The Rainbow Connection is sung twice is The Muppets, both times memorable. The first time it’s sung, it’s played as a joke, being sung by Fozzie and the Moopets with gag lyrics. I was actually disgusted by this version, as it was completely disrespectful to the original song, but, it being played as a joke, I didn’t truly get annoyed. The second time it’s sung, though, it becomes probably the most epic moment of the movie. All the Muppets (except Walter) come out to sing it, in both a glorious rendition of the song, and a moment that shows that no matter what happens, the Muppets will stick together.

4. The Ballad of Rango, Rango

This song is the last thing you hear when you leave the theater, assuming you’re sticking around until the end of the credits, and man, it’s worth staying to the end just for this song. It sums up the entire plot of the movie in a fun song resembling the mariachi owls’ songs in the film proper. A really fun song that fits the quirkiness of the film along with being a catchy song in its own right.

3. The Backson Song, Winnie the Pooh

I actually thought Winnie the Pooh didn’t have that many good songs for a musical, but there’s one that sticks out for being a legitimately catchy and great song; the Backson song. The movie takes a shift in art style to a memorable chalky look just for this song, which works to great effect. Along with the smart lyrics and bouncy tune, this makes the song a winner.

2. Star Spangled Man, Captain America: The First Avenger

This song is one of the funniest of the year in context of the film. Seeming completely out of place, but not, this song takes place during the USO tour, perfectly capturing the period of the ‘40s. The song is probably the catchiest of the year, and definitely one of the most memorable parts of Captain America. I’m definitely hoping for a callback in the Avengers.

1. Life’s a Happy Song, The Muppets

The best song of the year by far, Life's a Happy Song is a rousing anthem for exactly what the Muppets stand for. Honestly, I could've filled this entire list with new Muppet songs, but I limited myself to just this one. As previously mentioned, it represents everything the Muppets stand for, the triumph of laughter over cynicism. Both beginning and closing the film, the song is just about how good life is with a friend and some happiness. The song is still stuck in my head after seeing the film, and I haven't re-listened to it online like the other songs on this list. Just a fantastic song.

Come back tomorrow for the top five movie quotes of the year!

Here are my Academy Award predictions. I don't have any analysis for you, but this will be my only end of year article without analysis. I'm assuming each field meets the requirements for maximum nominations.

Best Picture
The Artist
The Descendents
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

Best Director
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Michel Hazanvicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendents
Martin Scorcese, Hugo
Stephen Spielberg, War Horse

Best Actor
George Clooney, The Descendents
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Ryan Gosling, Drive
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Best Actress
Viola Davis, The Help
Kirsten Dunst, Melancholia
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Charlize Theron, Young Adult
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn

Best Supporting Actor
Albert Brooks, Drive
Tom Hanks, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Ben Kingsley, Hugo
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Supporting Actress
Sandra Bullock, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Carey Mulligan, Shame
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Shailene Woodley, The Descendents

Best Animated Feature
The Adventures of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Kung Fu Panda 2
Rango
Winnie the Pooh

Best Original Screenplay
50/50
The Artist
Midnight in Paris
Young Adult
Rango

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Descendents
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Moneyball
Tinker, Sailor, Soldier, Spy

Best Art Direction
The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Hugo
The Tree of Life
War Horse

Best Cinematography
The Artist
Drive
Hugo
The Tree of Life
War Horse

Best Costume Design
The Artist
The Help
Hugo
Jane Eyre
My Week with Marilyn

Best Documentary Feature
Bill Cunningham, New York
Buck
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Pina
Project Nim

Best Documentary Short Subject
The Barber of Birmingham
Incident in New Baghdad
Saving Face
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom
Witness

Best Film Editing
The Artist
Drive
Hugo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
War Horse

Best Foreign Language Film
13 Assassins
A Separation
Certified Copy
Le Havre
The Skin I Live In

Best Makeup
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
J. Edgar
My Week with Marilyn

Best Original Score
Ludvoic Bource, The Artist
Trent Renzor and Atticus Ross, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Howard Shore, Hugo
John Williams, War Horse
Hans Zimmer, Rango

Best Original Song
The Backson Song, Winnie the Pooh
Life’s a Happy Song, The Muppets
The Living Proof, The Help
Pictures in My Head, The Muppets
Star Spangled Man, Captain America: The First Avenger

Best Animated Short Film
Dimanche/Sunday
La Luna
Luminaris
Specky Four-Eyes
Wild Life

Best Live Action Short Film
Love at First Site
Pentecost
Raju
The Road Freak
Time Freak

Best Sound Mixing
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Hugo
Super 8
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
War Horse

Best Sound Editing
The Adventures of Tintin
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Hugo
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
War Horse

Best Visual Effects
Captain America: The First Avenger
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Super 8
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Multiple nomination list
10: Hugo
7: The Artist; War Horse
6: The Help
5: The Descendents; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
4: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
3: Drive; Midnight in Paris; Moneyball; My Week with Marilyn; Rango
2: The Adventures of Tintin; Captain America: The First Avenger; Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close; The Muppets; Rise of the Planet of the Apes; Super 8; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; Transformers: Dark of the Moon; The Tree of Life; Winnie the Pooh; Young Adult

This is the beginning of my end of year article series about the films of 2011. Each day in the following few days, I'll post an article about the best songs, quotes, and films, along with the worst films of the year. Tomorrow is the Top Five Movie Songs of 2011, so come back for that!

I know TZ has a sizable fanbase for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I recently launched a fansite called "Equestria Rainbooms," and I wondering if anyone here would like to join. Although they are not on the site yet, we're planning on hosting RPs and tourneys. We've got a chat as well, so you can always talk! If you want to talk ponies, but not in such a huge setting as some other boards, come on down to Equestria Rainbooms!

http://equestriarainbooms.co.tv/

I hope that some of you join, since I really want this to be a successful site!

Rango is an interesting movie to say the least. Scratch that, it's probably one of the weirdest movies I've seen in my life. Rango follows a pet chameleon who falls out of his owner's car and ends up in the bleak Mojave Desert and the town of Dirt. He creates a new persona for Dirt, and becomes its sheriff while living a lie of being an amazingly awesome lizard.

Rango is weird. There's no other way to describe it. Full of bizarre humor, Rango somehow works. It's biggest action sequence takes place with Rango in drag and his love interest, Beans, in an Indian costume. That's a small example of the weird factor. Along with being purely weird, I’d like to it's a shock to me this was rated PG. It’s full of sex jokes, more violence than any other animated movie I’ve seen recently, and a lot of language. PG-13 is what this probably should’ve got if there wasn't the animation ghetto. It's not a problem, but if you're showing the film to younger children, consider it.

The cast of Rango is good too, even though you'd probably won't recognize anyone in the film just by the voice. I didn't even know Alfred Molina was in it until the credits, and I'm still not sure who he voiced. The animation on Rango is incredible. It looks near to live-action yet still stylized. The only times the animation comes near to being creepy is when humans show up, but they're barely in the movie. The score on Rango is fun too, with a random Mariachi band leaving commentary on what happens while the background music is powerful.

Rango is the first animated movie by long-time effects company ILM. It's much better than the other recent premiere animated film by another studio, Despicable Me. While Despicable Me was a decent film, playing it safe, Rango is a great film, which takes innovative risks. Do yourself and the film industry a favor and go buy Rango. You won't regret it.

Some glitch just happened, so I guess I have to repost this...

Anyway, Well, this is it. I finally have my own blog. It'll probably be used for mostly movie reviews, but who knows what else I'll put up? I'll post my really long Rango review tomorrow, and then I'll begin backtracking through movies. I guess the Green Hornet will be after that, and stuff like that. So... yeah, stay tuned.

Now, does anyone have any idea how to categorize these posts?