Best and Worst of Summer 2011 Awards
It's been quite the blockbuster season, and I have reached the end of my summer review schedule. That means no new reviews will be coming until the Fall season. But before it's over, we'll look back on the past three months of cinema. Three films in the space of just three months have broken in to the Top 10 Worldwide Grossers of All Time list. Four big-budget, highly anticipated superhero adaptations arrived. The finale to one of the most successful multi-media franchises of all time flew into cinemas. We were treated to the usual barrage of sequels, prequels, and threequels, and series-starters. Some flopped. Some exceeded all expectations. But what came out on top? And what films skidded to a halt at the bottom of a huge heap of disappointed fans? In this overview I'll isolate the best and worst offerings of 2011's summer film season. Keep in mind that winners do not necessarily represent the nominee that I gave the highest (or lowest) score to.
BEST FILM OF THE SUMMER
The Nominees:
Super 8
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
X-Men: First Class
WINNER: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
While this summer sported some notable heavy-hitting, high-quality blockbusters, this was an easy choice. Deathly Hallows - Part 2 defied all odds and perfectly wrapped up one of the most beloved franchises in cinema history. Any film that manages to do this is an obvious choice for the best film of the summer - and quite possibly one of the best films of 2011.
WORST FILM OF THE SUMMER
The Nominees:
Green Lantern
Cars 2
Kung Fu Panda 2
WINNER: Green Lantern
Two disappointing animated sequels would be duking it out for this award if not for the gargantuan failure that was Green Lantern. While Cars 2 and Kung Fu Panda 2 both suffered from sequel syndrome, Lantern flew out of the gate with everything going for it and managed, to put it simply, to suck. If Hollywood churns out Green Lantern 2 sometime in the next few years despite this Lantern's disappoining box office performance, at least we'll have the satisfaction of knowing that it can't possibly be worse than its predecessor...right?
BIGGEST SURPRISE
The Nominees:
Fast Five
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
WINNER: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Who would've expected the reboot of a franchise that really hasn't aged as well as it's been cut out to to be this great? Rise clenched this award easily by taking its viewer on an emotional journey that brings up social questions through the use of brilliant CGI and and involving origin story. Pay attention, Hollywood, this is a prequel done right.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
The Nominees:
Kung Fu Panda 2
Cars 2
Green Lantern
WINNER: Kung Fu Panda 2
While Cars 2 was the most surprisingly mediocre movie of the summer and Green Lantern was the worst, Kung Fu Panda 2 takes home the dishonor of summer 2011's most disappointing. For me, the original KFP was DreamWorks' first animated offering that truly rivaled the quality of what Pixar was offering up. I was excited for a sequel, and I went into the theatre with expectations that were possibly a bit too high. As such, I came out disappointed. Kung Fu Panda 2 feels rushed and too much like the middle act in a trilogy that does not yet exist.
BEST FLAT-OUT ACTION FILM
The Nominees:
Fast Five
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Cowboys & Aliens
Captain America: The First Avenger
WINNER: Cowboys & Aliens
Cowboys & Aliens sets out with one goal in mind: to entertain its viewer by pushing genre conventions to their limits. There's not much originality to be found here, but the pure adrenaline can be felt in almost every action scene. To back it up is an all-star cast and some spectacular creature design. While something like Fast Five offers a more tangible source of thrills, Cowboys & Aliens takes the cake thanks to its untampered-with aura of good ol' blockbuster action.
BEST COMIC BOOK FILM
The Nominees:
Thor
X-Men: First Class
Captain America: The First Avenger
WINNER: X-Men: First Class
Summer's other superstar prequel was also the best comic book film of the season. First Class successfully breathes life into a franchise that many thought was dead after the disappointing third installment and subsequently more disappointing Wolverine origin story. Thanks primarily to two powerhouse leads that feel like younger versions of the two veteran actors that they supposedly portray, First Class edges out Thor for the summer's best superhero outing.
BEST SEQUEL OR PREQUEL
The Nominees:
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
WINNER: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
Not much to say here. Deathly Hallows Part 2 takes home the best sequel award, no questions asked. Why? It's the culmination of events from seven previous installments and it still works magic every minute.
MOST VISUALLY STUNNING
The Nominees:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
WINNER: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
The CGI team behind Peter Jackson's 2005 King Kong returned to their ape-animating origins to depict Andy Serkis' Caesar along with a legion of primates for this prequel. Not only are the action scenes featuring these remarkable creatures exhilarating and expertly crafted, but strong emotion is conveyed through scenes completely devoid of dialogue using nonexistent simians. If that isn't a technological achievement, I don't know what is.
BEST POTENTIAL FRANCHISE OR FRANCHISE CONTINUATION
The Nominees:
Fast Five
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Thor
The Hangover Part II
WINNER: Thor
Though we'll surely get a continuation of the God of Thunder's story when The Avengers rolls around next summer, Thor deserves a franchise of his own over rival hero Captain America, due mostly to the character's clueless likability in the face of Earth's many challenges that can't be solved with a magical glowing hammer. The possibilities are endless, so it's only right that Thor 2 has been officially confirmed for release in summer 2013. Asgardians, rejoice!
BEST FILM OF THE SUMMER
The Nominees:
Super 8
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
X-Men: First Class
WINNER: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
While this summer sported some notable heavy-hitting, high-quality blockbusters, this was an easy choice. Deathly Hallows - Part 2 defied all odds and perfectly wrapped up one of the most beloved franchises in cinema history. Any film that manages to do this is an obvious choice for the best film of the summer - and quite possibly one of the best films of 2011.
WORST FILM OF THE SUMMER
The Nominees:
Green Lantern
Cars 2
Kung Fu Panda 2
WINNER: Green Lantern
Two disappointing animated sequels would be duking it out for this award if not for the gargantuan failure that was Green Lantern. While Cars 2 and Kung Fu Panda 2 both suffered from sequel syndrome, Lantern flew out of the gate with everything going for it and managed, to put it simply, to suck. If Hollywood churns out Green Lantern 2 sometime in the next few years despite this Lantern's disappoining box office performance, at least we'll have the satisfaction of knowing that it can't possibly be worse than its predecessor...right?
BIGGEST SURPRISE
The Nominees:
Fast Five
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
WINNER: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Who would've expected the reboot of a franchise that really hasn't aged as well as it's been cut out to to be this great? Rise clenched this award easily by taking its viewer on an emotional journey that brings up social questions through the use of brilliant CGI and and involving origin story. Pay attention, Hollywood, this is a prequel done right.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
The Nominees:
Kung Fu Panda 2
Cars 2
Green Lantern
WINNER: Kung Fu Panda 2
While Cars 2 was the most surprisingly mediocre movie of the summer and Green Lantern was the worst, Kung Fu Panda 2 takes home the dishonor of summer 2011's most disappointing. For me, the original KFP was DreamWorks' first animated offering that truly rivaled the quality of what Pixar was offering up. I was excited for a sequel, and I went into the theatre with expectations that were possibly a bit too high. As such, I came out disappointed. Kung Fu Panda 2 feels rushed and too much like the middle act in a trilogy that does not yet exist.
BEST FLAT-OUT ACTION FILM
The Nominees:
Fast Five
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Cowboys & Aliens
Captain America: The First Avenger
WINNER: Cowboys & Aliens
Cowboys & Aliens sets out with one goal in mind: to entertain its viewer by pushing genre conventions to their limits. There's not much originality to be found here, but the pure adrenaline can be felt in almost every action scene. To back it up is an all-star cast and some spectacular creature design. While something like Fast Five offers a more tangible source of thrills, Cowboys & Aliens takes the cake thanks to its untampered-with aura of good ol' blockbuster action.
BEST COMIC BOOK FILM
The Nominees:
Thor
X-Men: First Class
Captain America: The First Avenger
WINNER: X-Men: First Class
Summer's other superstar prequel was also the best comic book film of the season. First Class successfully breathes life into a franchise that many thought was dead after the disappointing third installment and subsequently more disappointing Wolverine origin story. Thanks primarily to two powerhouse leads that feel like younger versions of the two veteran actors that they supposedly portray, First Class edges out Thor for the summer's best superhero outing.
BEST SEQUEL OR PREQUEL
The Nominees:
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
WINNER: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
Not much to say here. Deathly Hallows Part 2 takes home the best sequel award, no questions asked. Why? It's the culmination of events from seven previous installments and it still works magic every minute.
MOST VISUALLY STUNNING
The Nominees:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
WINNER: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
The CGI team behind Peter Jackson's 2005 King Kong returned to their ape-animating origins to depict Andy Serkis' Caesar along with a legion of primates for this prequel. Not only are the action scenes featuring these remarkable creatures exhilarating and expertly crafted, but strong emotion is conveyed through scenes completely devoid of dialogue using nonexistent simians. If that isn't a technological achievement, I don't know what is.
BEST POTENTIAL FRANCHISE OR FRANCHISE CONTINUATION
The Nominees:
Fast Five
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Thor
The Hangover Part II
WINNER: Thor
Though we'll surely get a continuation of the God of Thunder's story when The Avengers rolls around next summer, Thor deserves a franchise of his own over rival hero Captain America, due mostly to the character's clueless likability in the face of Earth's many challenges that can't be solved with a magical glowing hammer. The possibilities are endless, so it's only right that Thor 2 has been officially confirmed for release in summer 2013. Asgardians, rejoice!
THANKS FOR READING!
Summer might be over, but that just means that the Fall movie season is about to begin. Check back soon for an official autumn movie review lineup!
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