Nebular's TOP 20 Favorite Movies of 2011 PART 2 [10 - 1]

CM's Best-Reviewed Movies of 2011

PART 2 [No. 10 - 1]

(Read about the UPDATE HERE)

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1. The Help (9.75/10)

Overall summary: Brilliantly-written, wonderfully-acted and beautifully-filmed, "The Help" is as touching and emotionally-powerful as it's uplifting and delightfully absorbing, and will win your heart and stay in your mind long after the credits roll, simply because it's one of the best movies of 2011, and one of the finest book adaptations ever made.

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2. Shaolin (9.50/10)

Overall summary: Thanks to its compelling story, brilliantly-portrayed characters, fantastic visuals and stupendous action scenes, Benny Chan's "Shaolin" ranks as one of the most accomplished, profoundly-engrossing and slickly-crafted martial arts movies ever made.

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3. Hugo (9.50/10)

Overall summary: With its magically moving story, delightful characters, dazzling cinematography and exquisite production design, Scorsese's personal love letter to cinema, "Hugo", is arguably, the most enchanting, absorbing, imaginative and visually-sumptuous film of 2011.

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4. X-Men: First Class (9.25/10)

Overall summary: Boasting a fantastic cast, strong script, dazzling production design, stellar set-pieces and director Matthew Vaughn's visual creativity, "X-Men: First Class" is an absolutely brilliant prequel, that proves to be a first class indeed.

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5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (9.25/10)

Overall summary: With its pitch-perfect narrative, sophisticated visuals, polished direction and outstanding performances, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is another cinematic jewel in Fincher's crown, and easily ranks as one of the best remakes of foreign films ever made.

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6. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (9.00/10)

Overall summary: Featuring innovative direction, clever writing, brilliant performances and some of the most polished CGI effects ever put on film, and filled with electrifying moments, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is the most gripping and visually-striking movie of the summer.

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7. Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows - Part 2 [3D] (9.00/10)

Overall summary: Compelling, emotionally powerful, superbly-crafted, and visually mind-blowing, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" not only ranks as the best installment in the super-successful franchise along with Alfonso Cuaron's "Prisoner of Azkaban", but it's also a great and truly magical way to end the series. Farewell, Harry Potter!

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8. Mission: Impossible -
Ghost Protocol (8.75/10)

Overall summary: Featuring cleverly inventive direction, great cast, amusing dialogues, stunningly gorgeous locations and spectacular action sequences, "M:I - Ghost Protocol" is better, funnier, more exciting and entertaining than its three predecessors put together.

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9. Contagion (8.75/10)

Overall summary: Brilliantly-filmed, contagiously-compelling, subtly-terrifying, and elevated by its top-notch cast and intelligently-written script, "Contagion" is one of Soderbergh's most remarkable films, and also one of the most memorable virus-themed movies ever created.

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10. The Adventures of Tintin [3D] (8.75/10)

Overall summary: Adventurous, hugely enjoyable, utterly enthralling and stunningly-animated, this impressive first-ever animated film, directed by the mastermind Steven Spielberg, should have been called "The Amazing Adventures of Tintin", as it's absolutely extraordinary in every way, and undoubtedly, the best animated feature of 2011.

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And... I'm turning 30 today!:)

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Nebular's TOP 20 Favorite Movies of 2011 PART 1 [20 - 11]

CM's Best-Reviewed Movies of 2011

PART 1 [No. 20 - 11]
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11. Take Shelter (8.50/10)

Overall summary: Quietly ominous, at times disturbing, but constantly compelling, and shot with a subtle beauty and refined care, "Take Shelter" is a seamless mixture of affecting drama and unconventional horror, led by Michael Shannon's astounding performance.

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12. Wu Xia a.k.a. Dragon (8.50/10)

Overall summary: Amazingly-choreographed, masterfully-directed and visually stunning, Peter Chan's "Wu Xia" captivates with its compelling characters, gorgeous scenery and strong script, and showcases Donnie Yen in top form, both acting-wise and fighting-wise.

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13. Source Code (8.50/10)

Overall summary: Thanks to its unique premise, clever plot structure, flawless execution, and Gyllenhaal's top-notch performance, "Source Code" easily ranks as one of the most accomplished and skillfully-crafted sci-fi films of the 00'sand also one of the best films of the year.

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14. Hanna (8.25/10)

Overall summary: With its unique premise, stellar execution, impressive variety of settings, and Ronan's show-stealing performance, "Hanna" is not only a true breath of fresh air into the genre, but also one of the most clever and spectacularly entertaining action thrillers of the decade.

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15. Drive (8.25/10)

Overall summary: A seamless blend of full throttle action, shocking violence and unexpected romance, "Drive" is a moody, yet tasteful and stylish art-house action thriller, masterfully helmed by Refn, who combines a clever script with an outstanding direction and dramatic music score to deliver probably the biggest surprise of 2011.

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16. Rango (8.25/10)

Overall summary: Charmingly-bizarre, smartly-written and beautifully-crafted, Verbinski's "Rango" is undoubtedly one of the most visually-unique animated features ever created, and certainly the quirkiest one, and it will appeal to anyone with an open mind and great imagination.

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17. Sleep Tight (8.00/10)

Overall summary: With its refined direction, flawless execution, strong characterization, and Luis Tosar's sensationally disturbing performance, "Sleep Tight" is a subtly scary and darkly unsettling psychological horror thriller that certainly won't help you sleep tight at night. At all.

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18. The Descendants (8.00/10)

Overall summary: Boasting a smoothly elegant direction, touching script, picturesque scenery and bravura performances from Clooney and Woodley, "The Descendants" is wise, witty, amusing, heartfelt, affecting, funny, exhilarating and visually-ravishing all at the same time.

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19. A Separation (8.00/10)

Overall summary: Using no gimmicks whatsoever, "A Separation", is a complex, tensely engrossing and impeccably-acted film, that is as suspenseful as it's affecting, whose director never judges his flawed, very human characters, but dares to give us a glimpse at Iran's unfair legal system and the only ostensibly democratic life in this country.

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20. Arthur Christmas [3D] (8.00/10)

Overall summary: Witty, amusing, and splendidly-animated, "Arthur Christmas" is a modern take on Santa Claus and Christmas, that not only fascinates with its rich 3D visuals and colorful characters, but also delivers an emotional story and a powerful message for kids.

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Are you watching the new original HBO series Luck starring Dustin Hoffman? You can find more information about this amazing TV show HERE. Also check out this awesome Top 5 list of Classic Casino Movies.

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Honorable mentions:

Kung Fu Panda 2 (8.00/10)
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (8.00/10)
Rio (8.00/10)
The Tree of Life (7.75/10)
Jane Eyre (7.75/10)
The Skin I Live In (7.75/10)
Real Steel (7.75/10)
Mother's Day (7.75/10)
Super 8 (7.75/10)
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