Massive Books and Movies Recap Post
Jan. 2nd, 2012 08:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
arcanelegacyHappy New Year, everyone!
The past few weeks I've been enjoying periodic bouts of internet-free time, so I haven't been around nearly as much. The next few days should slow down (which will make me so incredibly happy) and I should be able to catch up on a few things around then!
In the interim, I have been reading, playing Skyward Sword, and socializing almost beyond what my poor brain can handle. :D
In the interest of actually doing a few end-of-the-year things, here's a brief recap of the books I've read and the movies I've seen this year! (Now with bonus thoughts on each!)
Also as a note: some of the recaps contain spoilers, so if there's a movie on here you haven't seen and you don't wish to be spoiled, skip it. For the list WITHOUT recaps, take a look here!
Books Read in 2011
1. I Am Number 4 by Pittacus Lore
Not a terrible book, though it was obviously written with the goal of being optioned for a movie in mind. I read it before the movie came out and it was pretty obvious why Michael Bay was a producer for it. Could have been much better, but could have been much worse. Now I'm just sad I paid for a hardcover copy when I've little desire to read it again - except for the shapeshifting alien that spent most of the story as a beagle.
2. Septimus Heap: Magyk by Angie Sage
First in a series. Took me ages to finish because while it was pretty good, it wasn't the best book I'd ever read. Better for a much younger audience who is less genre-savvy, I think. (I called most of the twists by virtue of having read that much fiction like it before.) Probably won't be reading the next few books in the series.
3. Fables: Peter and Max by Bill Willingham
I wasn't sure about this one when I started as Bill Willingham's style seems better suited to comic-writing than prose - and there were definitely parts where I think Willingham was using purple prose for the sake of it, and his style periodically veered away from it. But the story was good, and I love his Fables-verse.
4. Starfleet Academy: The Edge by Rudy Josephs
5. Starfleet Academy: The Delta Anomoly by Rick Barba
Lumping these two together because there wasn't much to them aside from bits of plot and character development not seen in the films. Best part was seeing a bit more of Uhura's developing relationship with Spock - especially since that got so little development in the film.
6. Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
Probably one of my favorite books so far this year. Very wonderful universe, and goodness knows I love me some alternate history stories. I especially loved the world-building and the different tracks between the Darwinists and the Clankers.
7. Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel
8. Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel
Skybreaker was a reread and Starclimber was Skybreaker's sequel and the third part of a trilogy of books. They're alternate history stories as well, with a delightful cryptozoology bent. I'd love to see either these books or Leviathan turned into a film; both would be gorgeous.
9. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
10. Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones
11. House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones
Bought House of Many Ways the day Diana Wynne Jones died. All three books are fantastic and wonderful reads, though Howl's Moving Castle and Castle in the Air seem to have been written for a much higher reading level than House of Many Ways. I really enjoy Jones' way of crafting a universe and I love her characters - Sophie is one of my favorites of all time, and seeing her again was fabulous.
12. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
13. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
14. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
15. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
16. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
Again, lumping these together 'cause they're all connected stories anyway. The Last Olympian was probably my favorite of the five, though The Lightning Thief was most excellent after it got started. I think Riordan's beginnings are his greatest weaknesses. It took me days to get through the first third of The Lightning Thief, but once the plot got going I finished in a day, desperate to see the end. The other books were much the same, though that "beginning" weakness got shorter and shorter the further Riordan got into the overarching plot.
17. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
Technically a reread, but I hadn't read the book for years (since elementary school). Still one of my favorite stories ever - while Cimorene plays into a trope of her own, now (the princess who completely rejects nearly all traditional princess-y roles and hobbies), she is still a wonderful character and Kazul is one of my favorite dragons this side of Temeraire.
18. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
The sequel series to Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I was pretty excited for this book because I loved the first series so much, and it really didn't disappoint. Riordan is really branching out with varying POVs in this book, and I was especially fond of how different the individual voices were. Each chapter denoted who the focus was, but their voices were all so distinct after a point I stopped paying attention - I could already tell who was the focus.
19. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
20. Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
Riordan's take on Egyptian mythology. Those were the first two books in the trilogy; the third isn't due out until Fall 2012 so I'm playing the waiting game on that. I've enjoyed both books so far, though they were also obviously plagued by Riordan's difficulties with beginnings. The setup just drags on a little longer than I think it needs to, and I feel like it shows. I'm also a little 'meh' about the "recorded on a tape for posterity" style - mostly because I find the two POV characters periodic interruptions of each other's narratives distracting.
21. Behemoth by Scott Westerfield
22. Goliath by Scott Westerfield
Behemoth and Goliath are sequels to Leviathan (and apparently this year was my year of series). Behemoth was fantastic and added to an already lush world. By comparison, Goliath ended up being a bit of a disappointment - the way I had anticipated things ending was not how they ended at all. I had really hoped for a little bit more wild adventure, but didn't quite get it. It was still a really good book, and I'm sure there are people who would be more satisfied with the ending than I was.
23. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
A fairy tale retelling set in the same universe as Carson Levine's book Ella Enchanted. Apparently this was a reread, but I was more than two-thirds of the way through the book before I figured that out. I think that's rather telling, in ways. I found Ella Enchanted to be a lot stronger of a story, with a romance that was much more developed (and not so based on looks).
24. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
Sequel to The Lost Hero. This one followed another set of three characters - though only two of them were new. I am still quite enamored by Riordan's style and his character voices, though I'm a little unsure about certain aspects of the series going forward from here. They're minor concerns, though.
25. Stardust by Neal Gaiman
Wanted to read this when the movie came out years ago, but could only find the novelization of the movie (and both books went by the same title, making THAT search confusing as hell). I remember only bits of the movie now, so I was able to enjoy the book without much comparison. I did like it, though I found the style a little irritating at times - it was a little more removed than I generally like reading.
26. Following Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci
For the record, The Body of Christopher Creed (this book's prequel) is one of my favorite books ever. Following Christopher Creed? Not as much. I caught the big twist a little before it was officially revealed in the book, and for the first time ever I hated the twist - or at least the way it tied into the character development I'd read about up until that point. One of the things I've always adored about Plum-Ucci's stuff is the supernatural elements - it's not urban fantasy, but definitely asks you to pick whether you'd prefer the supernatural explanation, or if you want to roll with the mundane explanation. There was an element of that here, but it was not
27. East by Edith Patou
A well-planned, well-researched retelling of a somewhat obscure fairy tale that was almost completely undone by having way too many POVs involved. Five POVs in a book this short is far, far too many, especially when some of the POVs added little until the end (but were used throughout) or could have been condensed into one POV. Beyond my frustration with the POV swapping, the book was decent - it started more strongly than it ended, though. I'll read it again. Also because I have a huge attachment to this particular fairy tale now.
Movies Seen in 2011
Theatrical Releases
1. Tron: Legacy Jan. 1 (x2)
When people express disappointment in this film I have to laugh - what did they expect? It's a simple sequel to a simple original film, and the best parts are honestly the background details. I still love this movie something fierce, but it wasn't a fantastic film.
2. True Grit Feb. 10
Haylee Steinfield did not win an Oscar for this. The world is a sadder place because of it. She stole the show - which is damned hard when you're acting alongside Matt Damon and Jeff-effin'-Bridges. Excellent movie.
3. Rango March 6
Perhaps one of the oddest 3D animated films I've ever seen. Excellent, though - just not one I'd take my kids to until they were a smidge older. Beautiful graphics, stunning animation and motion-capture, and Johnny Depp as a Chameleon goes over way, way better than you'd think.
4. Battle: Los Angeles March 11
Perhaps the most underrated sci fi film of the year. This isn't your typical alien invasion film - well, okay, it kind of is, but unlike most films this movie plays the idea totally and completely straight. There isn't a lot of comic relief. There isn't a lot of joking. The aliens don't make many mistakes, but the humans sure as hell do. I'm pretty sure anyone who doesn't do military propaganda and soldier-buddy films would find this movie cheesy and ridiculous, though. Me, I buy that propaganda and eat it for breakfast, so I was sold from the outset.
5. Sucker Punch April 13
The world is a more terrible place for the existence of this film. I could write for hours about how sexist, frustrating, gross, overwrought, and horribly bad this film is, but I won't. Instead I'll say this: Sucker Punch is a terrifyingly sexist pile of shit wrapped in horrifying levels of grossness, and it's made all the worse because it's trying to masquerade as a film about female empowerment. Gross, gross, gross, and if I could I'd sue Zack Snyder for my money back, I would.
6. Hanna April 16
Now this was interesting! I had been a little wary - there are only so many times I want to see an emotionless girl assassin in my life - but it surprised me by being less about the assassin angle and more about the discovery of what it means to be human and how to form relationships. I thought it was beautiful for that, and would love to have this one on DVD.
7. Thor May 6 (x2)
Perhaps one of my favorite movies of the year! Of course, it has a lot to compete with. This year was easily the Year of the Geek, and Thor was just one of the many examples of that. Loved it all the way, though. There are so many amazing scenes and bits and such excellent background details (Darcy reloading her taser, seeing Thor just seconds before Jane hit him with her car...again), COULSON, continuity -- all things I love. PLUS SPACE SCENES, NOM. I would get a little flutter in my chest whenever the scenes changed over to asgard - SO MANY STARS.
8. Rio May 7
Not my favorite animated film of the year - I think Tin Tin wins for that - but this one was up there. It's bright, fun, and imaginative, and I'm a sucker for all of the above. I did find the movie to be a bit faster paced than I would have liked. It felt like the writers wanted to cover as much ground as they could and pack in as many characters as they could, so some of the individual development fell by the wayside.
9. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
My second least favorite film of the year because this movie took everything I liked about the first three Pirates films and took a huge dump on them. The story was weak, the only sequence that was anything like an actual pirates movie was the bit in England at the beginning of the movie, and everything after that was boring, a waste of time, and had to ride on Jack's back just to be remotely entertaining. The most interesting plotline of the film - the relationship between the mermaid and the preacher - ended on a note most people wouldn't understand unless they were familiar with mermaid lore, and that's a steep request to ask of your entire audience.
10. Super 8 June 10 (Midnight Showing)
This was an interesting film for me. I half expected one thing and got something a bit different, so I was a little torn over whether or not I truly liked this movie. Overall I know I did, but I think it was missing a little more character bonding and a bit more with the alien. The trailers certainly made this out to be more of a mystery involving an alien, and it turned out to be part mystery part action film (and I feel like Hollywood needs to realize it's okay to not be an action film) and I think I would have liked a little more mystery. It's still one of my favorites from this year.
11. Green Lantern June 18
Oh, Green Lantern. You had so much potential, why did you have to fail so hard? I just...I really don't have anything here, except that my favorite bits were all Oa and the other Lanterns. The rest of it was just...not there. This should have been a film like Iron Man: a wonderful origin story that didn't totally pander to the fanboys but still snuck in enough references to the comics to please them without completely confusing non-fans. (Which is a big part of why I like the Marvel Movie!Verse so much. I get it, even without having read ALL OF THE COMICS.)
12. Transformers: Dark of the Moon June 29 (x2)
For what it's worth, I understand that these are terrible films. But they're my guilty pleasure (GIANT ALIEN ROBOTS THAT TURN INTO CARS, EEEEEE) so I love them despite their terrible. (See also my love for Tron/Tron: Legacy.)
This one:
Pro: LEONARD NIMOY, dozens of Star Trek references, LENSFLARE.
Con: IRONHIDE. ALL OF MY SADS
13. Captain America: The First Avenger July 23 (x3)
....I saw this movie twice on opening day. And I loved it. I still love it. Bucky! Cap! HOWARD EFFIN' STARK. Peggy Carter! SO MANY THINGS. Also the subtle and not-so subtle references to other Marvel films. I love that it came together. I love that it was anachronistic. I love that it was done in the spirit of WWII propaganda but still ended up being a movie! I love that Alan Menken wrote some of the songs. I love that Steve is amazing and has an amazing cast of friends.
14. Cowboys and Aliens July 30
This was another movie I was torn on because I expected something a bit different than what I got. Which isn't to say that the movie was bad! Only that it was so far separate from what I'd anticipated that I wasn't sure for a long time whether I was disappointed that it wasn't what I thought, or wowed by what it ended up being. On a second watch it was decent - nothing particularly special, except for a few things here and there.
Still proud that I called Olivia Wilde's character being an alien. Not that they hid it all that well - the line that gave it away was even in the trailers. OTOH, I give props to Olivia Wilde for playing that line well enough to give the twist away - I know a lot of actresses would have parsed it differently and lost the twist entirely.
15. Horrible Bosses August 12
I am still sitting somewhere between "OH GOD WHAT WAS THIS" and finding it to be hilarious. There were numerous hilarious parts to this movie, but the way the characters treated the female on male sexual harassment was upsetting. It's 2011. We're supposed to be well past this. Don't dismiss it. Sexual harassment is wrong, no matter what.
16. Fright Night September 4
I've told everyone that I went into this movie with low expectations (because I did) and was absolutely blown away (because I was). Colin Farrell walks a wonderfully fine line between being awesome and a total creeper, and he does it more magnificently than I ever would have thought! This movie was funny, glorious, witty, and is now officially my favorite bit of media having to do with vampires.
It also makes fun of Twilight.
17. Drive September 24
Another movie that totally surprised me in the best way possible. The pacing is delightful, the tension is fantastic, the mood is incredible, and I absolutely loved the timelessness of having modern cell phones paired with 80s synth music. I have the soundtrack on my iPod and looooove to listen to it while driving. (lulz) I really hope this movie starts showing up in film classes, because I think it would fit there perfectly - there's a lot that could be discussed.
18. Real Steel October 8
ANOTHER OF MY GUILTY PLEASURES. But also an adorable film about a boy and his boxing robot and his deadbeat dad! The kid (Max) was absolutely adorable - I need this on DVD just to watch him dance with the damn robot all the time.
I also spent most of the movie laughing at all the product placement (which was very often blatant, but totally acceptable because OH HI ROBOT BOXING, there'd be sponsors and I'd expect those to be plastered everywhere).
19. The Ides of March October 16
This was...an interesting film. I'll probably never watch it again, but it was still quite good. Ryan Gosling is fabulous and plays very well against George Clooney here.
20. Tower Heist November 9
This movie was a lot better when I stopped trying to pretend it was funny. IMO, a movie about someone stealing the life savings of dozens of people, driving one of them to attempt suicide? Is not a comedy, it's a dramatic film with some funny bits and humorous attempts at getting revenge. Still, I thought it was well acted. Just...I couldn't categorize it as a comedy.
21. Hugo November 25
This was yet another film from this year that turned out totally different than I anticipated. But it was still amazing! However, I did feel like the movie got a little bogged down by its characters - most specifically the injured train station guard. His act and personality were a little over the top and stuck out in comparison to the other characters, and not really in a good way.
22. The Muppets November 26
This movie was a long time coming, and it was truly worth it. I never watched the original Muppet Show, but I've had the muppets in my life anyway - through Muppet Babies and Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island. The film did not disappoint! I would've liked to see more Rolf and Rizzo, though, since they're two of my favorites.
23. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows December 18
I thought this was a worthy follow-up to the last RDJ and Jude Law movie. It kept the humor and spirit of the first installment while improving on a few things I thought were lacking in the first - namely, the way RDJ's Holmes mumbled through all of his lines. I had to see the first movie three times before I was completely sure of Holmes's dialogue, but in this one I got it right away.
24. The Adventures of Tin Tin December 26 (x2)
A beautiful, lush movie that manages to be amazingly realistic in some ways and incredibly cartoony in others. I thought the animators did a fantastic job of making Tin Tin look like a real person, though I did notice that Snowy's movements were sometimes a little stiff and off when he was shown walking or trotting. Props to the entire cast for pulling together such a wonderful film!
Also, for as uncanny and off putting as it looked, the Steven Spielberg cameo was awesome.
DVDs
1. Starman
This I really watched for the lulz, but it ended up being okay! Jeff Bridges is still one of my favorite actors ever. I'd recommend the film to anyone interested in 80s sci fi lulz, 'cause that's really what it is at this point.
2. Fargo
This I watched because apparently I was missing out on something. And maybe I was? I liked the film well enough, don't get me wrong, but that kind of humor and I only get along sometimes, so I didn't find it quite as funny as just...interesting and mad-cap.
3. the Hulk
In the spirit of seeing all of the Avengers lead in films before the Avengers comes out, I sat down and watched the Ed Norton version of the Hulk. Compared to the Incredible Hulk (which I do think I watched sometime this year) it was a vast improvement, but I don't think that it really fit in with the caliber of the other Avengers lead ins. I dunno how much of that is strictly the comics, but I was especially annoyed with how Betty's character was treated - while the other Marvel ladies (Peggy, Pepper, Jane, and Darcy specifically) seem to have taken a level in badass and play a heavy role in each of the films they're in, Betty seemed only to exist for Bruce.
4. The Social Network
I hope to spend most of the rest of my life with as little mention of this movie as possible. Not that I hated it - the movie was well filmed and well put together, but...well, I didn't need a movie about Facebook. I didn't. I still don't need it or want it, so I'm hoping to never have to deal with it again.
5. The Hangover
Somehow, I think I missed the boat on this one. The only character I liked was absent most of the movie, and tbh I didn't find it quite so hilarious.
6. Stick It
I'd like to highlight this one mostly for myself, as proof that I do watch movies other people want me to watch. But let's face it: gymnastics movies aren't my thing, Jeff Bridges or no Jeff Bridges. And this one started with one plot and ended with a completely different one, so in the grand scheme of gymnastics movies it's probably somewhere towards the bottom, Jeff Bridges or no Jeff Bridges.
7. I Am Number Four
Is it bad that I thought the book was better than the movie, and the book was only so-so? This movie was more flash-bang than it was anything else, and unfortunately it cut out the only really decent bits in the book. :/
8. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Read the books, decided to see the adaptation. Wasn't too disappointed, though they cut massive amounts of the plot and a whole - rather important - character, which I honestly do not understand. I'm curious to see how they continue the series without some of the characters they cut, and with the parts they kept.
9. X-Men First Class
Full disclosure: I have a love/hate relationship with this. On the one hand, I think it was better than a lot of the other X-films that've been made to date. On the other, it's not better by a lot, and I thought it was plagued by a lot of the same problems (that probably bleed over from the comics, so I can only blame the screenwriters so much). Most of my issues stem from the djfisdcj;f OMG BROMANCE focus on Charles and Erik -- but only because it came at the expense of every other character involved. I also hated what the writers did to Raven, making her veer wildly between being an adult and a child, on Erik's side and on Charles' side, and in the end had her abandon him while he was lying bleeding on the beach. For the dramaz.
10. Bridesmaids
Now this was a good movie. I was a bit reluctant when I heard it described as "the Hangover for girls" but it ended up being much, much better (IMO) than the Hangover. There was character development as well as humor, so this was a film that was both about romance and comedy as well as an actual plot, which wins it many, many brownie points in my book.
11. Isolation
This was a movie that kept popping up in my Netflix recommendations list, so I figured why not give it a whirl. It's different - the plot is about someone doing experiments on cattle on an isolated Irish farm, only things go horribly wrong and the experiment escapes and starts slaughtering people. Also it can change their behavior somewhat after biting them? It's been a while, and overall I was invested more in the mood of the film than the plot. The setting was fantastic - it was dark and gloomy and felt very, very isolated.
...aaaand two days after I started writing this, I finish.
The past few weeks I've been enjoying periodic bouts of internet-free time, so I haven't been around nearly as much. The next few days should slow down (which will make me so incredibly happy) and I should be able to catch up on a few things around then!
In the interim, I have been reading, playing Skyward Sword, and socializing almost beyond what my poor brain can handle. :D
In the interest of actually doing a few end-of-the-year things, here's a brief recap of the books I've read and the movies I've seen this year! (Now with bonus thoughts on each!)
Also as a note: some of the recaps contain spoilers, so if there's a movie on here you haven't seen and you don't wish to be spoiled, skip it. For the list WITHOUT recaps, take a look here!
Books Read in 2011
1. I Am Number 4 by Pittacus Lore
Not a terrible book, though it was obviously written with the goal of being optioned for a movie in mind. I read it before the movie came out and it was pretty obvious why Michael Bay was a producer for it. Could have been much better, but could have been much worse. Now I'm just sad I paid for a hardcover copy when I've little desire to read it again - except for the shapeshifting alien that spent most of the story as a beagle.
2. Septimus Heap: Magyk by Angie Sage
First in a series. Took me ages to finish because while it was pretty good, it wasn't the best book I'd ever read. Better for a much younger audience who is less genre-savvy, I think. (I called most of the twists by virtue of having read that much fiction like it before.) Probably won't be reading the next few books in the series.
3. Fables: Peter and Max by Bill Willingham
I wasn't sure about this one when I started as Bill Willingham's style seems better suited to comic-writing than prose - and there were definitely parts where I think Willingham was using purple prose for the sake of it, and his style periodically veered away from it. But the story was good, and I love his Fables-verse.
4. Starfleet Academy: The Edge by Rudy Josephs
5. Starfleet Academy: The Delta Anomoly by Rick Barba
Lumping these two together because there wasn't much to them aside from bits of plot and character development not seen in the films. Best part was seeing a bit more of Uhura's developing relationship with Spock - especially since that got so little development in the film.
6. Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
Probably one of my favorite books so far this year. Very wonderful universe, and goodness knows I love me some alternate history stories. I especially loved the world-building and the different tracks between the Darwinists and the Clankers.
7. Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel
8. Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel
Skybreaker was a reread and Starclimber was Skybreaker's sequel and the third part of a trilogy of books. They're alternate history stories as well, with a delightful cryptozoology bent. I'd love to see either these books or Leviathan turned into a film; both would be gorgeous.
9. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
10. Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones
11. House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones
Bought House of Many Ways the day Diana Wynne Jones died. All three books are fantastic and wonderful reads, though Howl's Moving Castle and Castle in the Air seem to have been written for a much higher reading level than House of Many Ways. I really enjoy Jones' way of crafting a universe and I love her characters - Sophie is one of my favorites of all time, and seeing her again was fabulous.
12. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
13. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
14. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
15. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
16. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
Again, lumping these together 'cause they're all connected stories anyway. The Last Olympian was probably my favorite of the five, though The Lightning Thief was most excellent after it got started. I think Riordan's beginnings are his greatest weaknesses. It took me days to get through the first third of The Lightning Thief, but once the plot got going I finished in a day, desperate to see the end. The other books were much the same, though that "beginning" weakness got shorter and shorter the further Riordan got into the overarching plot.
17. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
Technically a reread, but I hadn't read the book for years (since elementary school). Still one of my favorite stories ever - while Cimorene plays into a trope of her own, now (the princess who completely rejects nearly all traditional princess-y roles and hobbies), she is still a wonderful character and Kazul is one of my favorite dragons this side of Temeraire.
18. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
The sequel series to Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I was pretty excited for this book because I loved the first series so much, and it really didn't disappoint. Riordan is really branching out with varying POVs in this book, and I was especially fond of how different the individual voices were. Each chapter denoted who the focus was, but their voices were all so distinct after a point I stopped paying attention - I could already tell who was the focus.
19. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
20. Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
Riordan's take on Egyptian mythology. Those were the first two books in the trilogy; the third isn't due out until Fall 2012 so I'm playing the waiting game on that. I've enjoyed both books so far, though they were also obviously plagued by Riordan's difficulties with beginnings. The setup just drags on a little longer than I think it needs to, and I feel like it shows. I'm also a little 'meh' about the "recorded on a tape for posterity" style - mostly because I find the two POV characters periodic interruptions of each other's narratives distracting.
21. Behemoth by Scott Westerfield
22. Goliath by Scott Westerfield
Behemoth and Goliath are sequels to Leviathan (and apparently this year was my year of series). Behemoth was fantastic and added to an already lush world. By comparison, Goliath ended up being a bit of a disappointment - the way I had anticipated things ending was not how they ended at all. I had really hoped for a little bit more wild adventure, but didn't quite get it. It was still a really good book, and I'm sure there are people who would be more satisfied with the ending than I was.
23. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
A fairy tale retelling set in the same universe as Carson Levine's book Ella Enchanted. Apparently this was a reread, but I was more than two-thirds of the way through the book before I figured that out. I think that's rather telling, in ways. I found Ella Enchanted to be a lot stronger of a story, with a romance that was much more developed (and not so based on looks).
24. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
Sequel to The Lost Hero. This one followed another set of three characters - though only two of them were new. I am still quite enamored by Riordan's style and his character voices, though I'm a little unsure about certain aspects of the series going forward from here. They're minor concerns, though.
25. Stardust by Neal Gaiman
Wanted to read this when the movie came out years ago, but could only find the novelization of the movie (and both books went by the same title, making THAT search confusing as hell). I remember only bits of the movie now, so I was able to enjoy the book without much comparison. I did like it, though I found the style a little irritating at times - it was a little more removed than I generally like reading.
26. Following Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci
For the record, The Body of Christopher Creed (this book's prequel) is one of my favorite books ever. Following Christopher Creed? Not as much. I caught the big twist a little before it was officially revealed in the book, and for the first time ever I hated the twist - or at least the way it tied into the character development I'd read about up until that point. One of the things I've always adored about Plum-Ucci's stuff is the supernatural elements - it's not urban fantasy, but definitely asks you to pick whether you'd prefer the supernatural explanation, or if you want to roll with the mundane explanation. There was an element of that here, but it was not
27. East by Edith Patou
A well-planned, well-researched retelling of a somewhat obscure fairy tale that was almost completely undone by having way too many POVs involved. Five POVs in a book this short is far, far too many, especially when some of the POVs added little until the end (but were used throughout) or could have been condensed into one POV. Beyond my frustration with the POV swapping, the book was decent - it started more strongly than it ended, though. I'll read it again. Also because I have a huge attachment to this particular fairy tale now.
Movies Seen in 2011
Theatrical Releases
1. Tron: Legacy Jan. 1 (x2)
When people express disappointment in this film I have to laugh - what did they expect? It's a simple sequel to a simple original film, and the best parts are honestly the background details. I still love this movie something fierce, but it wasn't a fantastic film.
2. True Grit Feb. 10
Haylee Steinfield did not win an Oscar for this. The world is a sadder place because of it. She stole the show - which is damned hard when you're acting alongside Matt Damon and Jeff-effin'-Bridges. Excellent movie.
3. Rango March 6
Perhaps one of the oddest 3D animated films I've ever seen. Excellent, though - just not one I'd take my kids to until they were a smidge older. Beautiful graphics, stunning animation and motion-capture, and Johnny Depp as a Chameleon goes over way, way better than you'd think.
4. Battle: Los Angeles March 11
Perhaps the most underrated sci fi film of the year. This isn't your typical alien invasion film - well, okay, it kind of is, but unlike most films this movie plays the idea totally and completely straight. There isn't a lot of comic relief. There isn't a lot of joking. The aliens don't make many mistakes, but the humans sure as hell do. I'm pretty sure anyone who doesn't do military propaganda and soldier-buddy films would find this movie cheesy and ridiculous, though. Me, I buy that propaganda and eat it for breakfast, so I was sold from the outset.
5. Sucker Punch April 13
The world is a more terrible place for the existence of this film. I could write for hours about how sexist, frustrating, gross, overwrought, and horribly bad this film is, but I won't. Instead I'll say this: Sucker Punch is a terrifyingly sexist pile of shit wrapped in horrifying levels of grossness, and it's made all the worse because it's trying to masquerade as a film about female empowerment. Gross, gross, gross, and if I could I'd sue Zack Snyder for my money back, I would.
6. Hanna April 16
Now this was interesting! I had been a little wary - there are only so many times I want to see an emotionless girl assassin in my life - but it surprised me by being less about the assassin angle and more about the discovery of what it means to be human and how to form relationships. I thought it was beautiful for that, and would love to have this one on DVD.
7. Thor May 6 (x2)
Perhaps one of my favorite movies of the year! Of course, it has a lot to compete with. This year was easily the Year of the Geek, and Thor was just one of the many examples of that. Loved it all the way, though. There are so many amazing scenes and bits and such excellent background details (Darcy reloading her taser, seeing Thor just seconds before Jane hit him with her car...again), COULSON, continuity -- all things I love. PLUS SPACE SCENES, NOM. I would get a little flutter in my chest whenever the scenes changed over to asgard - SO MANY STARS.
8. Rio May 7
Not my favorite animated film of the year - I think Tin Tin wins for that - but this one was up there. It's bright, fun, and imaginative, and I'm a sucker for all of the above. I did find the movie to be a bit faster paced than I would have liked. It felt like the writers wanted to cover as much ground as they could and pack in as many characters as they could, so some of the individual development fell by the wayside.
9. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
My second least favorite film of the year because this movie took everything I liked about the first three Pirates films and took a huge dump on them. The story was weak, the only sequence that was anything like an actual pirates movie was the bit in England at the beginning of the movie, and everything after that was boring, a waste of time, and had to ride on Jack's back just to be remotely entertaining. The most interesting plotline of the film - the relationship between the mermaid and the preacher - ended on a note most people wouldn't understand unless they were familiar with mermaid lore, and that's a steep request to ask of your entire audience.
10. Super 8 June 10 (Midnight Showing)
This was an interesting film for me. I half expected one thing and got something a bit different, so I was a little torn over whether or not I truly liked this movie. Overall I know I did, but I think it was missing a little more character bonding and a bit more with the alien. The trailers certainly made this out to be more of a mystery involving an alien, and it turned out to be part mystery part action film (and I feel like Hollywood needs to realize it's okay to not be an action film) and I think I would have liked a little more mystery. It's still one of my favorites from this year.
11. Green Lantern June 18
Oh, Green Lantern. You had so much potential, why did you have to fail so hard? I just...I really don't have anything here, except that my favorite bits were all Oa and the other Lanterns. The rest of it was just...not there. This should have been a film like Iron Man: a wonderful origin story that didn't totally pander to the fanboys but still snuck in enough references to the comics to please them without completely confusing non-fans. (Which is a big part of why I like the Marvel Movie!Verse so much. I get it, even without having read ALL OF THE COMICS.)
12. Transformers: Dark of the Moon June 29 (x2)
For what it's worth, I understand that these are terrible films. But they're my guilty pleasure (GIANT ALIEN ROBOTS THAT TURN INTO CARS, EEEEEE) so I love them despite their terrible. (See also my love for Tron/Tron: Legacy.)
This one:
Pro: LEONARD NIMOY, dozens of Star Trek references, LENSFLARE.
Con: IRONHIDE. ALL OF MY SADS
13. Captain America: The First Avenger July 23 (x3)
....I saw this movie twice on opening day. And I loved it. I still love it. Bucky! Cap! HOWARD EFFIN' STARK. Peggy Carter! SO MANY THINGS. Also the subtle and not-so subtle references to other Marvel films. I love that it came together. I love that it was anachronistic. I love that it was done in the spirit of WWII propaganda but still ended up being a movie! I love that Alan Menken wrote some of the songs. I love that Steve is amazing and has an amazing cast of friends.
14. Cowboys and Aliens July 30
This was another movie I was torn on because I expected something a bit different than what I got. Which isn't to say that the movie was bad! Only that it was so far separate from what I'd anticipated that I wasn't sure for a long time whether I was disappointed that it wasn't what I thought, or wowed by what it ended up being. On a second watch it was decent - nothing particularly special, except for a few things here and there.
Still proud that I called Olivia Wilde's character being an alien. Not that they hid it all that well - the line that gave it away was even in the trailers. OTOH, I give props to Olivia Wilde for playing that line well enough to give the twist away - I know a lot of actresses would have parsed it differently and lost the twist entirely.
15. Horrible Bosses August 12
I am still sitting somewhere between "OH GOD WHAT WAS THIS" and finding it to be hilarious. There were numerous hilarious parts to this movie, but the way the characters treated the female on male sexual harassment was upsetting. It's 2011. We're supposed to be well past this. Don't dismiss it. Sexual harassment is wrong, no matter what.
16. Fright Night September 4
I've told everyone that I went into this movie with low expectations (because I did) and was absolutely blown away (because I was). Colin Farrell walks a wonderfully fine line between being awesome and a total creeper, and he does it more magnificently than I ever would have thought! This movie was funny, glorious, witty, and is now officially my favorite bit of media having to do with vampires.
It also makes fun of Twilight.
17. Drive September 24
Another movie that totally surprised me in the best way possible. The pacing is delightful, the tension is fantastic, the mood is incredible, and I absolutely loved the timelessness of having modern cell phones paired with 80s synth music. I have the soundtrack on my iPod and looooove to listen to it while driving. (lulz) I really hope this movie starts showing up in film classes, because I think it would fit there perfectly - there's a lot that could be discussed.
18. Real Steel October 8
ANOTHER OF MY GUILTY PLEASURES. But also an adorable film about a boy and his boxing robot and his deadbeat dad! The kid (Max) was absolutely adorable - I need this on DVD just to watch him dance with the damn robot all the time.
I also spent most of the movie laughing at all the product placement (which was very often blatant, but totally acceptable because OH HI ROBOT BOXING, there'd be sponsors and I'd expect those to be plastered everywhere).
19. The Ides of March October 16
This was...an interesting film. I'll probably never watch it again, but it was still quite good. Ryan Gosling is fabulous and plays very well against George Clooney here.
20. Tower Heist November 9
This movie was a lot better when I stopped trying to pretend it was funny. IMO, a movie about someone stealing the life savings of dozens of people, driving one of them to attempt suicide? Is not a comedy, it's a dramatic film with some funny bits and humorous attempts at getting revenge. Still, I thought it was well acted. Just...I couldn't categorize it as a comedy.
21. Hugo November 25
This was yet another film from this year that turned out totally different than I anticipated. But it was still amazing! However, I did feel like the movie got a little bogged down by its characters - most specifically the injured train station guard. His act and personality were a little over the top and stuck out in comparison to the other characters, and not really in a good way.
22. The Muppets November 26
This movie was a long time coming, and it was truly worth it. I never watched the original Muppet Show, but I've had the muppets in my life anyway - through Muppet Babies and Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island. The film did not disappoint! I would've liked to see more Rolf and Rizzo, though, since they're two of my favorites.
23. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows December 18
I thought this was a worthy follow-up to the last RDJ and Jude Law movie. It kept the humor and spirit of the first installment while improving on a few things I thought were lacking in the first - namely, the way RDJ's Holmes mumbled through all of his lines. I had to see the first movie three times before I was completely sure of Holmes's dialogue, but in this one I got it right away.
24. The Adventures of Tin Tin December 26 (x2)
A beautiful, lush movie that manages to be amazingly realistic in some ways and incredibly cartoony in others. I thought the animators did a fantastic job of making Tin Tin look like a real person, though I did notice that Snowy's movements were sometimes a little stiff and off when he was shown walking or trotting. Props to the entire cast for pulling together such a wonderful film!
Also, for as uncanny and off putting as it looked, the Steven Spielberg cameo was awesome.
DVDs
1. Starman
This I really watched for the lulz, but it ended up being okay! Jeff Bridges is still one of my favorite actors ever. I'd recommend the film to anyone interested in 80s sci fi lulz, 'cause that's really what it is at this point.
2. Fargo
This I watched because apparently I was missing out on something. And maybe I was? I liked the film well enough, don't get me wrong, but that kind of humor and I only get along sometimes, so I didn't find it quite as funny as just...interesting and mad-cap.
3. the Hulk
In the spirit of seeing all of the Avengers lead in films before the Avengers comes out, I sat down and watched the Ed Norton version of the Hulk. Compared to the Incredible Hulk (which I do think I watched sometime this year) it was a vast improvement, but I don't think that it really fit in with the caliber of the other Avengers lead ins. I dunno how much of that is strictly the comics, but I was especially annoyed with how Betty's character was treated - while the other Marvel ladies (Peggy, Pepper, Jane, and Darcy specifically) seem to have taken a level in badass and play a heavy role in each of the films they're in, Betty seemed only to exist for Bruce.
4. The Social Network
I hope to spend most of the rest of my life with as little mention of this movie as possible. Not that I hated it - the movie was well filmed and well put together, but...well, I didn't need a movie about Facebook. I didn't. I still don't need it or want it, so I'm hoping to never have to deal with it again.
5. The Hangover
Somehow, I think I missed the boat on this one. The only character I liked was absent most of the movie, and tbh I didn't find it quite so hilarious.
6. Stick It
I'd like to highlight this one mostly for myself, as proof that I do watch movies other people want me to watch. But let's face it: gymnastics movies aren't my thing, Jeff Bridges or no Jeff Bridges. And this one started with one plot and ended with a completely different one, so in the grand scheme of gymnastics movies it's probably somewhere towards the bottom, Jeff Bridges or no Jeff Bridges.
7. I Am Number Four
Is it bad that I thought the book was better than the movie, and the book was only so-so? This movie was more flash-bang than it was anything else, and unfortunately it cut out the only really decent bits in the book. :/
8. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Read the books, decided to see the adaptation. Wasn't too disappointed, though they cut massive amounts of the plot and a whole - rather important - character, which I honestly do not understand. I'm curious to see how they continue the series without some of the characters they cut, and with the parts they kept.
9. X-Men First Class
Full disclosure: I have a love/hate relationship with this. On the one hand, I think it was better than a lot of the other X-films that've been made to date. On the other, it's not better by a lot, and I thought it was plagued by a lot of the same problems (that probably bleed over from the comics, so I can only blame the screenwriters so much). Most of my issues stem from the djfisdcj;f OMG BROMANCE focus on Charles and Erik -- but only because it came at the expense of every other character involved. I also hated what the writers did to Raven, making her veer wildly between being an adult and a child, on Erik's side and on Charles' side, and in the end had her abandon him while he was lying bleeding on the beach. For the dramaz.
10. Bridesmaids
Now this was a good movie. I was a bit reluctant when I heard it described as "the Hangover for girls" but it ended up being much, much better (IMO) than the Hangover. There was character development as well as humor, so this was a film that was both about romance and comedy as well as an actual plot, which wins it many, many brownie points in my book.
11. Isolation
This was a movie that kept popping up in my Netflix recommendations list, so I figured why not give it a whirl. It's different - the plot is about someone doing experiments on cattle on an isolated Irish farm, only things go horribly wrong and the experiment escapes and starts slaughtering people. Also it can change their behavior somewhat after biting them? It's been a while, and overall I was invested more in the mood of the film than the plot. The setting was fantastic - it was dark and gloomy and felt very, very isolated.
...aaaand two days after I started writing this, I finish.
