Good Movies Released in 2011

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 3:51 pm

New Films for 2011

As of this writing, the list of good movies released in 2011 is far from complete. However, a number of quality films have already rolled into theatres, so check to see if the following titles are playing at a multiplex near you.

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Thor – Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth shows off his good looks and acting skill as Thor, the hammer-wielding hunk made popular in the pages of Marvel Comics. After his father (Anthony Hopkins with an eye patch) banishes him to Earth, Thor romances a brilliant scientist (Natalie Portman); tries to stop the devious plots of his brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston); and learns the true meaning of being a hero. Directed by Kenneth Branagh and co-starring Stellan Skarsgard, Kat Dennings, Idris Elba, and Ray Stevenson.

I Saw the Devil – When his pregnant wife (Oh San-ha) is dispatched by a serial killer (Choi Min-sik), a South Korean secret agent (Lee Byung-hun) plans some payback of epic proportions. Directed by Kim Ji-woon, I Saw the Devil is an unpredictable and frequently grueling look at the darker side of revenge. Including cannibalistic couples, fishhooks in the feet, and the proper technique for cutting an Achille’s tendon.

The Way Back – Although the story has been disputed on a number of occasions, The Way Back is billed as the true-life tale of several prisoners who escaped from a Siberian gulag and walked 4,000 miles to freedom. Directed by the always-competent Peter Weir, the film stars Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess, Colin Farrell, and Saoirse Ronan. An incredible story of human endurance, and the even-changing landscape should have received top billing.

Battle: Los Angeles – A soon-to-retire sergeant with a dark side (Aaron Eckhart) is called upon to lead a squad of Marines against alien invaders in Los Angeles. The camera gets a little too herky-jerky at times, but those looking for a live-action video game won’t be disappointed. Michelle Rodriguez shows off her sexy scowl and talent for violence in a supporting role.

Hobo with a Shotgun – Based on a faux Grindhouse trailer, Hobo with a Shotgun stars Rutger Hauer as a down-on-his-luck hobo who dreams of saving up enough money to buy a lawnmower. But fate has other plans for our grizzled hero, as he purchases a shotgun and goes on a rampage against the evil which plagues Hope City. Not as funny as the original premise, the film still manages to deliver plenty of over-the-top violence and black comedy moments. If you’re looking for a throwback to the golden days of exploitation movies, you could do a lot worse.

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Paul – Simon Pegg and Nick Frost star as a pair of British geeks who travel to America for a comic-book convention and later wind up visiting famous UFO sites in their RV. Imagine their surprise when they encounter a real alien (voiced by Seth Rogen) in the desert, and he needs their help to escape from pursuing government agents. Filled with references to pop culture from the 1980s, Paul is a light-hearted romp designed to appeal to the nerd in all of us. Co-starring Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, and Bill Hader.

Kill the Irishman – Rome’s Ray Stevenson stars as Danny Greene, an Irish mobster who raised hell in the Cleveland underworld during the 1970s and proved incredibly hard to kill. Co-starring Christopher Walken, Val Kilmer, and Vincent D’Onofrio.

The Conspirator – The eighth film from director Robert Redford, The Conspirator tells the story of Mary Surratt (Robin Wright), a woman tried in connection with the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the first female to be executed by the U.S. government. Co-starring James McAvoy, Evan Rachel Wood, Justin Long, Tom Wilkinson, and Kevin Kline.

Water for Elephants – Throw together Twilight’s Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), Walk the Line’s June Carter Cash (Reese Witherspoon), and an elephant with a stubborn streak. The resulting product is Water for Elephants, an entertaining period romance adapted from the Sara Gruen novel of the same title. The Oscar-winning Christoph Waltz co-stars as the villainous circus owner and our hero’s romantic rival.

Stake Land – A terrifying indie film about life after a global vampire outbreak. Connor Paolo plays a young man who takes up with a hardened vampire hunter (Nick Damici) after his entire family is slaughtered. Kelly McGillis co-stars as a nun who trades in her habit for a wooden stake, and the lovely Danielle Harris also gets in on the vampire-slaying action. Think of it like The Road, only with lots more undead.

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The next time you head to the theater, be sure to keep an eye out for these good movies released in 2011. Of course, readers who find this in 2012 or later are encouraged to head down to your local video store (or Netflix) and check them out on DVD or Blu-ray.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 17th, 2011 at 3:51 pm and is filed under Good Movies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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