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The Year’s Best and Worst Blockbuster Motion Pictures
This year’s blockbusters can be divided into three basic categories: remakes, reboots and big concepts, with some a combination of all three. In the 1990s, a Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts together in a movie would have been box office gold. In 2011, the result was little audience interest due in part to lackluster plot. Cars 2 and Kung Fu Panda 2 didn’t pack the same punch as their predecessors.
Scream 4 didn’t scare up much of an audience and J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg delighted fans with the nostalgic sci-fi charm of Super 8. Russel Brand didn’t do Arthur justice and Jim Carrey seemed like a pale imitation of himself at his peak in Mr.Is this new to you? Catch up here Popper’s Penguins. Here’s a look at some of the year’s other blockbusters, both good and bad.
The Hangover Part II (May) – Everybody came back for this second outing in this visual aid on what can happen when you consume way too much alcohol when preparing for a wedding. The resulting stupidity isn’t quite as amusing this time, especially since the setup is pretty the same story in a different city.
The Smurfs (July) – A live action/CGI version of the classic characters that dominated Saturday morning in the ’80s seemed like a good idea. The result is a series of one-liners and sight gags with some form of “smurf” substituting for every third word. It gets old quick and so does this movie. For a good idea of how this concept can work, see Hop.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (May) – This fourth installment of the franchise based on a Disney ride focuses on the search for the Fountain of Youth. Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow holds up surprisingly well. The result is a step up from 2007′s disappointing Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and a great place to dock this franchise.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (July) – The tale of the boy wizard has been delighting fans for a decade. This final installment in the series ranks up there with the first two movies as the best of the lot. A perfect example of how special effects and an engaging storyline can be combined for impressive results.
Captain America: The First Avenger (July) – It’s been a mixed year for superhero flicks. The Green Hornet, Green Lantern and X-Men: First Class were starting to make 2011 a bad year for superheros. Then this movie comes along as proof positive that the genre is still alive and well. Director Joe Johnston combines visual effects with a coherent storyline serving as perfect setup for next year’s Avengers movie.