Film Guru Lad's Top 8 Movies of 2011

Having missed out on or already watched some of the best movies made and released in the last year of 2011, here's the top 8.

#8. Thor

I still consider THOR the movie of the gods, which has some of Marvel's finest work. This film has everything, an all-star cast like Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston and others. The perfectly-choreographed action sequences, comedy, the 3D aspect and the one thing I didn't mention in this review are the stunning visuals that take the viewers to a different world.

#7. Johnny English Reborn

Another sequel that is better than the original, JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN, has all the action and laughs but was impressive for a continuation of a James Bond parody film. Even Rowan Atkinson has shown his comic routine in superiority.

#6. Kung Fu Panda 2

Darker and funnier than its predecessor, KUNG FU PANDA 2 has gotten more kung-fu action but also brings a new villain voiced by Gary Oldman. The sequel has something that the first movie didn't have are a couple of unresolved plot points.

#5. Transformers: Dark of the Moon

I consider DARK OF THE MOON an improvement over the second Transformers movie because it removed the Autobot twins and has its 3D aspect. It still has those great visuals. I always thought it was the last of the film series.

#4. Fast & Furious 5

I never watched any of the Fast & Furious films until now, but the fifth one is an action-packed extravaganza loaded with car chases, shotguns, humour and actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

#3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

The final chapter in the series, DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2, was the best finale to a fantasy saga that takes us on a journey of magic, friendship, creatures and evil villains like Harry's nemesis, Lord Voldemort. It's one of the best conclusions to a movie franchise.

#2. The Lion King 3D

More watchable than its original 2D format, the 3D conversion of THE LION KING is now more amazing and helps bring old movies released in 2D into the three-dimension. Not only was it appealing to the fans, but it attracted a new generation of people, young and old, to revisit Simba and other characters in this ultimate experience of a timeless animated blockbuster that finds its place in the Circle of Life.

#1. Real Steel

With REAL STEEL, it had incredible robot-boxing action that amazes everyone when robots fight each other in a match. The film also shows drama, which includes the relationship between the main character and his son. No wonder Shawn Levy had directed this picture. It should rank as the top movie of 2011.

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