Best of (kind of) movies from 2011

Hi!

I feel obliged to make my annual list of best movies of the 2011 season, but I have to-HAVE TO-put in a serious disclaimer that I have not seen many movies this year! I haven't seen "Girl with a Dragon Tattoo", "Tree of Life", "Drive" or other interesting fare, but I'm pleased to report that I have also avoided execrable abominations like "Twilight 12", "Transformers 8", and "Fast Five 5", or whatever that stink is. I like good stories and inspired direction. Mostly, I want to see something I've never seen before. That's my goal.

Here be my EXTREMELY incomplete list, counting up to my favorite.

"Red State" -Kevin Smith's attempt to tackle serious, adult fare. I wish I liked his movies as much as he does. Nice acting here, but Smith CAN NOT handle action fare.

"Super 8"-JJ Abrams' love letter to Spielberg. Fun, fun, fun, but pretty disposable and I never need to see it again. JJ, get to work on Star Trek 2!

"Timer" -a 2009 indie movie just now getting released. Average acting and direction, but a really great concept for a movie that begs to be discussed by anyone who remembers the fear of finding your soulmate. Caution-chick flick status.

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes"-I was very impressed by the quality of this film. It had heart, nerve, and a digital hero in Caesar the chimp that we haven't seen the likes of since Gollum broke our collective hearts a few years ago. (also voiced by the underestimated Andy Serkis) See this quality entry if you haven't already and forget the terrible Tim Burton disaster from years ago.

"Bridesmaids"-The ladies finally get a funny movie! I've never seen my lovely bride laugh so hard in 15 years. Stone cold funny and quote worthy.

"Captain America" It's too long and has some weird action bits, but HOLY CRAP THEY FINALLY MADE A CAPTAIN AMERICA MOVIE! If y'all know me, then you know I've been obsessed with Marvel comics since about 1975, so I am loving that Marvel is hiring good directors, good actors, and are generally trying to make good, faithful movies of these wonderful characters that are so beloved by so many. Marvel doesn't jack around. They got the perfect villain in Hugo Weaving as the Red Skull, and were smart to hire Tommy Lee Jones and Stanley Tucci in small but pivotal roles. Hayley Atwell was solid and not too painful to look at, either.

"Thor". Another Marvel movie that should have stunk. They got so much right! A newcomer in Chris Hemsworth NAILING the lead role, and getting the always fascinating Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins (!) to really sell the movie. Tom Hiddleston as the villain was excellent as well. This movie was so entertaining, and I was able to take my brilliant 8 year old to it as well. Wow!

"X-men First Class"-Yet another Marvel related movie! Good actors, great director, and some retro feel and history to boot! Fox tried to mangle this one, but Matthew Vaughn is just too smart and gifted to let the studio ruin his baby. Welcome back, X-men!

"The Muppets"- This is the white whale of movies. You can take the whole family to it and enjoy it. No adult jokes to sail over kid's heads, and no simple minded pandering to the kiddos. Just pure funny and wonderful, I say-wonderful songs. Bret Mckensie wrote some great songs that haven't left my cranium yet and I hope they stick around. Life's a happy song, indeed!

This was the year of being surprised for me, and I look forward to a big 2012 of huge, entertaining, and FREAKING AWESOME movies! Just can't wait. Bring it, Joss Whedon!

'

I know no cares about my favorite music from 2011. I'm ok with that if you are.

These are my favorite albums/cassettes/vinyl/phonograms/8-tracks/cds from 2011, unless U2 releases an album in the next week. I attached a clip of one song for y'all from each record. Here I go!

Lady Gaga's "Born this Way". I didn't like this record nearly as much as her last one, but there is HUGE production skills on display here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV1FrqwZyKw

Switchfoot's "Vice Verses" Good solid, smart songs once again. "Selling the news" might be my fave thinking song of the year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU2DB2wh1HE

Radiohead's "The King of Limbs". The Itunes live version of this record is amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfOa1a8hYP8

Gungor's "Ghosts upon the Earth". I can't believe how good these folks are at their jobs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vHFsXOdTt0

John Mark McMillan's "Economy" Love me some earnest songwriting and intensity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCx52k_aErI&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL5C7AC94760305B43

Foo Fighters' "Wasting Light". One of the last rock bands. I feel old. But that's ok.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnmzins2Uow

Wilco's "The Whole Love". Intricate interplay and happy "aha" moments once again from these fellers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWP4bI37mCE

Coldplay's "Mylo Xyloto" I can't pronounce it, but I know it's a good record.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHFmangx5O0

Hillsong United's "Aftermath". I went from loathing to loving this record. FYI, I am available for hire, guys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BErEgmHKenQ&feature=related

The Muppet Movie soundtrack. Wonderful songs brought to us by the good people of Flight of the Conchords. I have to smile when I hear this song. I had to put both song versions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc8j-_nGkys&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDnTo2S2BrA

And....my favorite record of the year is "Rich and Poor" from the Robbie Seay Band. This effort is a heartfelt and thoughtful batch of songs written mostly for the church and the title track has been reverberating in my head for a month. I can't find a Youtube clip of the song, so here are some short lyrics that say an awful lot. Buy the record here if you like, it's also a great headphone listen. http://www.robbieseayband.com/

"Rich and Poor, listen with your own heart,

His love is for us all,

His love is for us all.

Rich and Poor, listen with your own soul,

do not live in fear,

do not live in fear,

O rich and poor like,

His love is for us all.

I'm rich and poor,

high and low,

sick and well,

this I know.

His love is for us all. "

Maybe Mel Gibson had a point....

....maybe before the domestic abuse and swervy drivy time and the weird fascination with the short feller with the narrow moustache. He's one hell of a director. Tonight at church I watched "The Passion". As a believer, this is a sucker punch to the gut of my soul every single time I see this. Mr. Gibson once said that this film that he slaved over for years was "good for the soul". I'm inclined to agree with Husband of the year 2009. Probably something I shouldn't do too often.

Superheroes are all the rage in the movie theaters. I know I'm there for every stinking one of them. (make mine Marvel!) I want to see Captain America show up, risk it all and save the day for a better tomorrow. Don't you? Bigger than life! We're so compelled to see the True Grit of Rooster Cogburn and and how resolute he is to find the guy that shot Mattie's pa.

Resolute. That word burned into my brain while watching "The Passion". Jesus was the picture of resolute. His heart broke in the garden and on the cross, but He managed to hang in there to finish that awful mission. And He did it for me. And He did it for you. And then He went to prepare a bitching place for us. Love like this never existed before or after this most crucial day in the universe.

Today happens to be when we celebrate Palm Sunday, and it's the first time I really started to understand the gravity of what it means. It's the arrival of Jesus to YOUR little town!

Welcome Him! Shout Hosanna in the streets!