Favorites of 2011

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Here are the films that were memorable to me in no particular order:

• Rango
• Tangled
• Drive
• The Muppets
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II
• The Skin I Live In (Spain)
• Attack the Block (UK)
• Snowtown (AU)
• Hesher
• Sherlock Holmes 2
• The Dead (overall a great addition to the zombie genre, though schlocky in parts)
• Bridesmaids
• Paul (Why is this not on every single best-of list? The only DVD I bought this year.)
• Captain America
• Green Lantern
• Source Code
• Insidious (Ok, the 'reveal' was a bit daft but this stuck with me)
• Kung Fu Panda 2
• Hannah 
• X-Men: First Class 

Dishonorable mentions: Fast Five, Your Highness, The Help. What? I liked them! 

Of course I haven't seen some of the brilliant films included on most people's lists as I had an off year. What with moving to another country and losing a majority of my income as well as sharing what movies to see with my boyfriend, I missed a lot. I'll catch up on DVD.

Many of you will wonder why I don't include Super 8. I liked it. Definitely had its moments. But it lacked the magic that a movie of its type should have.

Sadly I haven't seen quite a few of the films I feel I should have this year. I'm hoping to see some of the big ones before year's end. 

Hope you had a good year at the movies. If you want to keep having the opportunity to see them on the big screen, make sure you go regularly and PAY! :)

Just a quick note about The Muppets

I'm not a film critic anymore, am I? What makes a critic? Is it someone who works commercially as a journalist or just a film buff with a vast range of knowledge who has an opinion? I think it's both, all. Whatever! 

Anyway, I saw The Muppets. I think you should too. Jason Segel is a brilliant writer, producer, actor and comedian. He's all things! Mostly, a man with a generous heart and a lot to share with the world.

I saw this movie and I was suddenly a little kid again, then a scared teenager leaving the nest, then going through my first love then feeling like the movie was giving me advice as a 30 year old. Somehow, Jason Segel managed to pack all of this into a spectacular and heartfelt Muppet reprise that left my cheeks stained with tears and my day looking more hopeful.

Adults will eat up the nostalgia but damn, did the kids love it too. The row behind me clapped through the last half of the film and had all of us clapping at the end. They hooted, they awed, they laughed and even sang along. It was truly, absolutely, magical. Worth dusting off the keyboard for.

Links

Hi all. Just letting you know that I'm keeping all the info on the right of the page up to date so please feel free to click away! :D

Jen

A note on retiring the blog

Dear friends,

I started this blog in 2007. That's 4 years of writing and in blog terms, that's about 400 years right? I think I gave it a good go. I wrote reviews on some fantastic films, met a lot of great people and made sure all the links on the right  were current. For the most part, I was on top of new releases, both cinema and DVD, and exciting movie news and trailers. I flirted with podcasting and interviews. I talked to David Wenham, Abbie Cornish, Don La Fontaine, Robert Connelly and quite a few others. I worked on a national radio show with a guy who was also on 60 minutes and they let me on air! I wrote fill-in reviews for the capital city paper. I was, and am, a proud member of the AFCA.

So why retire the blog? I'm still obsessed with movies, going to the cinema regularly, talking movie news with friends. I watch trailers all the time and see tons of  movies on TV and DVD.The simple answer is, I just can't be bothered anymore. I read countless articles far better written than mine on a daily basis. I see people who work very hard and turn blogs into websites into businesses. I just don't have that energy or momentum to strive for that any more. At one point I was writing for 3 websites, doing reviews on two radio stations and filling in for the local paper as well as updating JRM. I was guesting on 2 other national radio stations regularly. I wasn't paid for any of it and was working 2 jobs at the same time!  I burnt myself out and I've never been able to recover the enthusiasm I once had for writing and presenting reviews.

None of this has soured my love for movies. I will always spend time watching a film. I can't help it! I'm a movie buff, and always will be one.

Please keep in touch on twitter. I'll review in 140 characters until someone can give me motivation in monetary form perhaps, and I'll return to radio or writing. Until then, go see a movie!

All the best,

Jen

Update: Texas makes you fat and more.

Ok so I've been neglecting this blog. In fact, I've been neglecting a lot of things. I think I'm trying to take a vacation from myself. Let me explain. 

On July 4, I left Tasmania, Australia. While I was born and raised in Texas, USA, Tassie was my home for 15 years. Actually 15 years to the DAY of leaving. Why, after all this time, did I decide to move back? In a nutshell, I missed Texas and on a trip in Feb '11 (my Granny passed away, the one-of-a-kind Vada Klaus, may she rest in peace) I fell in love with my best friend. Stephen and I met as babies but were reintroduced when we were 6. We became pretty inseparable and were always staying at each others houses, talking on the phone and of course watching movies. In fact, he's probably the reason I have such a soft spot for B-grade horror. When I left him at 17 to seek my fortune across the seas, it was devastating, and pre-facebook. We stayed in touch a little over the years and I'm glad. I'm in love with my best friend and soul mate. It's like the ending of a book written by that Notebook guy. 

It's been 3 week since I arrived. I've been taking it easy, enjoying my vacation before having to earn income. A friend suggested just hitting a street corner but I'm pretty sure that would have an impact on my 'romance of a lifetime'. 

Since I've been here, I've watched Rubber (trust me, look this up), Captain America (4/5 stars!, stay after the credits!), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. II (*sob sob* 5/5 for fans), Kung-Fu Panda 2 (yep, I cried. 4/5) and Army of Darkness (still hilarious, ground breaking and awesome). I found out that Bruce Campbell, the chin himself, will be in Houston next month. It's about a 45 minute drive from where I live. Ticket prices are steep but I'm not sure I'd forgive myself if I didn't go...stay tuned.

In any case, I'm happy to be living in a house where movies are celebrated and watched frequently. I feel very at home, very content, very in love and VERY FAT. Texas food. Damn.