Top 10 Best Holiday Albums EVER

For adults Christmas is slowly becoming a depressing time of the year despite the commercial and religious messages of it being "the most wonderful time of the year" or "peace on Earth".  The hours spent cleaning, searching for the perfect plastic tree and demolishing your already depleted bank account on gifts for relatives and friends we are not entirely sure we really appreciate can put one in quite a sour mood.  The solution is to find the best mood-changing Christmas music ever released and thankfully there is much to chose from including Holiday standards from our childhood.  What are the BEST Holiday albums ever released that are sure to put you in the right spirit?  I've got the traditional classics that will stir those child hood memories as well as the contemporary hits that are sure to put you in that Holiday celebratory mood:

10: Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas - For those who grew up in the 60's, no modern singer can compare to the original Diva of soul singing, Ella Fitzgerald.  Her Christmas album is jam-packed with traditional Holiday songs and carols that are sure to gratify any listener searching for that traditional Christmas feeling.  Put this on while wrapping presents or decorating your tree and its pure magic!  Ella's soothing soul singing adds a calm, nostalgic feel to any Christmas celebration.  She avoids any original material and soars on well established church hymns including a stunning rendition of "Joy to the World", complete with a lush choir, as well as a calming version of "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear".  This is a must-have for any fan of traditional carols that is sure to fill your home with joyful childhood memories.

9. Home Alone - At any given moment during the Holiday season some channel is broadcasting Home Alone.  There is little doubt that the 90's film is the absolute favorite of any movie fan and the soundtrack, which features original music by famed composer John Williams (Jaws, ET, Star Wars) and classic Holiday tunes, has not escaped popularity as well.  It's not unusual to hear Williams' well-know Home Alone theme blasting from a co-worker's iPod or car stereo.  If there is one soundtrack that recalls the magic of its film, Home Alone is that soundtrack.  From Kevin's mischievous acts to the magical moods created by the film's locations, John Williams' score creates the perfect background for your Christmas shopping.  The score earned Williams another Oscar nomination for the now classic song "Somewhere in my Memory" which is performed by a children's choir during several key scenes in the film, creating that nostalgic, innocent Christmas mood.  Classic hits such as Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" add to the soundtrack's fantastic Holiday atmosphere.  There should be no hesitation in blasting this from your stereo if you are still in search of the perfect Holiday mood.

8. Kenny and Dolly: Once Upon A Christmas - I think it's time we forgive them for that over-the-top and tacky Christmas special which premiered in 1984 and has been making the family television rounds since; while fans refer to the television special as a "classic", we all know that without the gorgeous music, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton could have been imprisoned for the hideous costumes, sugary story lines and tactless script.  The Christmas album which inspired the television show is by far the best written Christmas album of all time, thanks mostly to Dolly Parton's bottomless song writing talents.  After all, the country diva did pen Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You".  In "Once Upon A Christmas" you find yourself recalling everything from lost loves to deceased family members you remember especially at Christmas.  The songs are simply fantastic especially "Christmas without you" and the new standard "Once Upon A Christmas" with its stunning orchestral opening and heartfelt vocals from Parton and Rogers.  There is no question that this album remains the gold standard for Holiday music.

7. N*Sync: Home for Christmas - For a different generation, the boy band N*Sync could do no wrong in 1998.  This included their platinum selling Holiday album featuring the hit "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays". While it may be easy for some of us to dismiss the album as teen pop, for those who grew up during the boy band and Britney Spears era, the album quickly brings back memories of our teen years, especially the upbeat and dance- ready "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays".  Perhaps it's unfortunate that some dismiss the album for its teen pop roots, since the boy band delivers some truly awe inspiring music including an acapella version of "O Holy Night" as well as a soulful rendition of "The First Noel".  Call them what you may, N*sync's Home for Christmas is a potent Holiday album that is sure to add cheer to your celebrations.

6. Merry Christmas II You - The newest entry on the list is the platinum selling follow up to 1994's "Merry Christmas" by the undisputed Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey.  While the album continues to gain momentum to be on par with the universally beloved "Merry Christmas", it is quite frankly the most up beat Christmas album in years.  The high light is obviously the dance friendly "Oh Santa" which went on to top the Billboard R&B and Holiday Song Charts.  The track is delicious, as Carey delivers quick, staccato vocals to a pop beat that is sure to get you off your feet and humming along.  The song has been featured in dozens of commercials and films since its 2010 debut and there is no denying it is just as good as Carey's "All I want for Christmas is you", which continues to hold the title of Best Selling Christmas Song of all time.  Other album highlights include Carey's duet with her opera singing mom in "O' Come All Faithful" and the sensational dance club version of "Auld Lang Syne".  Fans of the Charlie Brown Christmas special appreciate Mariah's take on "Charlie Brown Christmas" with her sultry jazz vocals.  No one will be disappointed by this album since beyond the spirited Holiday atmosphere it generates, Mariah's vocals are sure to thrill with her multi-octave voice providing some of the best versions of "Here Comes Santa Claus".  This is a worthy sequel to her original Christmas album that possesses hair raising vocals that is sure to gratify anyone searching for upbeat Christmas music.

5. Josh Groban - Noel - Even if you are not a fan of the best-selling tenor with the voice of gold, "Noel" is a traditional Christmas album that few can resist. The listener will be impressed by the wall-to-wall traditional classics and carols, but it is Groban's skyscraper vocals that will inspire, especially on tracks such as "Ave Maria", "What Child is this" and "Panis Angelicus".  Indeed, Groban's jaw dropping vocals will help you to recall all those family moments that made Christmas of yesteryear so special.  In fact, the album illustrates why he is still revered as the best tenor alive.  No one should hesitate to make this classic sounding album part of their Holiday celebrations.

4. Barbra Streisand - Christmas Memories: For the Holidays, you cannot go wrong with a standard. Barbra Streisand remains a classic choice for anyone seeking outstanding female vocals on a Holiday album.  "Christmas Memories" is exemplary compilation of traditional and new Holiday songs that allow Streisand's superior soprano vocals to soar, providing the listener with almost ethereal feeling.  What I particularly admire about the album is that while it contains awesome versions of classics such as "I'll be Home for Christmas", Streisand takes big risks with new songs such as "I Remember" which is sure to leave any listener reminiscing about past Christmas celebrations.  I particularly like the line "...as I plug in my artificial tree".  The song is sure to leave you with that warm, nostalgic feeling with lyrics to which we can all relate.  However, make no mistake, Streisand's limitless voice is the star attraction of the album as she delivers spellbinding vocals that are sure to add that extra luster to your Holiday celebrations.

3. A Motown Christmas: For one of the most complete compilations of beloved Holiday classics look no further than "A Motown Christmas".  Here you will find all your favorites from The Supremes and Stevie Wonder to Smokey Robinson and The Temptations.  In fact, no Holiday can be complete without The Supremes' beloved rendition of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" or "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by The Jackson 5.  It is hard to imagine a more sensational collection of R&B styled Christmas hits.  With standards such as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by The Temptations, this album will have you reflecting on your most cherished Holiday memories.

2.Nat King Cole - The Magic of Christmas: Let us all agree: Nat King Cole is the undisputed King of Christmas.  Like Mariah Carey, his voice seems built especially for Christmas music as it easily stirs that whimsical holiday feeling we all experience at some point of the season.  His "The Magic of Christmas" remains one of the Best-selling Holiday albums of all time and its not hard to see why.  On tracks such as "O' Tannenbaum", Cole's mellow vocals create the perfect reflective atmosphere.  His trademark crooner voice is sure to change your mood with amazing renditions of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem", but it is his universally praised version of "The Christmas Song" that will bring the house down.  Despite the fact that classic song has been covered by dozens of artistes, critics and fans agree that it is Nat's version that remains the most superior.  It is for this reason that no Holiday collection should be without this landmark album. You simply cannot celebrate Christmas without the voice of Nat King Cole.

1. Merry Christmas - Mariah Carey: No one will argue with this selection for the number 1 Christmas album ever recorded.  Beyond the fact that it's currently the Best Selling Christmas album of all time, these tracks contain the most superior vocals ever recorded by a female artiste.  Indeed, there is little dispute that Mariah Carey is the Queen of Christmas thanks to the multi-platinum selling "Merry Christmas".  If it's the Holidays and your radio is on you are bound to hear one of her Christmas standards and few can stop the festive feeling one is consumed by when Carey sings a holiday song.  In fact, her version of "O Holy Night" is constantly referred to as the best version of the traditional song all in part to her glass shattering whistle note towards the end of the song.  What I particularly like about this album is that, despite Carey's use of her trademark melisma, she maintains the beautiful structure of the classic Christmas songs such as "Silent Night" as well as traditional hymns like "Joy to the World" complete with rousing choirs.  Her voice is simply superior to all others on these tracks, but it is her worldwide sensation "All I want for Christmas is You" that will have you gyrating on the dance floor.  Critics constantly refer to this Carey hit as the newest Holiday Standard and what is truly impressive about the song's success is that both the lyrics and music were written by Carey herself, reportedly on a small Casio keyboard.  If her giant vocal ability does not impress you, her song writing skills surely will since "All I Want for Christmas" has been covered by more artistes than any other modern standard.  Currently there are over 10 versions of the song charting on iTunes with Mariah's original at number 1.  The country band Lady Antebellum and Ce Lo Green are the newest artistes to cover the hit in 2012, perhaps generating more than enough royalties for Carey to send both of her twins to college all the way to Doctorate level.  Like the diva or not, no one dead or alive, sings a Christmas song like Mariah Carey.

The Amazing Spiderman: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Review by Timothy Austin

In a summer littered with blockbusters, including the 3rd highest grossing film of all time, 'The Avengers', Marvel Studio's newest super-hero outing, "The Amazing Spiderman" is under a lot of pressure.  Many are already stating that 'The Amazing Spiderman' is a needless reboot that simply rehashes the original story of Spiderman which most fans would have seen just 10 years ago in "Spiderman" starring Tobey McGuire. 

Critics have already crowned the reboot a winning entry in Marvel's long line of highly successful superhero films and those who share the opinion that 'Amazing Spiderman' is unnecessary need only refresh their memory by watching the last installment of the previous series to see why the franchise desperately needed a reboot. 

"Spiderman 3" was the most disappointing superhero film in recent memory despite the lavish 'Sandman' special effects and two villain story arch.  Many fans deemed the ridiculous dancing scene with Tobey McGuire a colossal waste of time and let's not forget the now infamous "egg-frying" scene with Kirsten Dunst.  Indeed, the last Spiderman film has left a bitter taste with fans and I painfully recall wanting to walk out of the theater during the overblown finale in which the sandman becomes giant-sized. 

Fans can now breathe a sigh of relief as new Director Mark Webb comes to the rescue with a fresh take on the Spiderman mythos.  Webb is not the first director you would think about for Spiderman since he has mostly handled dramatic, emotional films including the popular and critically acclaimed 500 Days of Summer.  However, it is obvious that Marvel has decided to ground the Spiderman franchise in more emotion as evidenced by the selection of veteran Hollywood actors Martin Sheen and Sally Field in key roles as Uncle Ben and Aunt May respectively. 

Also bringing more emotion to the reboot is highly popular film composer James Horner.  Horner remains the most prolific film composer with his 'Titanic' soundtrack at the top of the Best Selling Orchestral Score albums; he continues to gain notoriety having composed music for the current top two grossing films of all time, 'Titanic' and 'Avatar',  However, fans of the composer were surprised when his name became associated with this potential blockbuster since outside of his landmark score for 'Avatar', recently Horner has mostly composed music for small, dramatic films.  However, his music for 'Amazing Spiderman' is one of the most anticipated scores of the year, especially since fans have heard little from Horner since Avatar.  While the veteran remains at the top tier of film composers, a position he only shares with fellow veteran John Williams, many have been wondering if Horner's usual broad romantic, over powering style would suit a modern blockbuster; especially since film music has dramatically changed with the rise of Hans Zimmer and the many composers who frequently imitate his electronic, bombastic style. So does Horner live up to expectations?  Having listened to the score three times prior to this review, it is still hard to tell what effect Horner's new music will have on moviegoers and long time fans.

Horner begins much like Danny Elfman's opening titles for the original 'Spiderman' film with horn solos of the films main theme; but what sets Horner's music apart from Elfman's is his dramatic use of an easily recognizable theme for Spiderman.  While one needed about four listens of Elfman's Spiderman score to decipher the main theme, Horner makes no qualms about his broad, horn based main theme.  In fact, given the edgier super hero music we have heard recently in the X-Men films and the new Batman Franchise, Horner's upbeat and heroic 'Spiderman' theme may be jarring.  In typical Horner style the theme blasts forth with unapologetic bravado, pomp and ceremony in "Main Titles - Young Peter".  Here Horner's theme is in the line of his American bravado music for the 'Rocketeer' which will make many long time fans of the composer salivate.  The theme is stunning, if not slightly too upbeat for Spiderman, however Horner's use of pulsating electronic percussion gives the theme modern flare that downplays the overly heroic sound. 

The opening track also presents one of the most puzzling aspects of Horner's score: the use of ethnic  sounding voices.  Many score fans would remember the not-so-well received female Asian wailing voice in Danny Elfman's 'Hulk' score, but while Horner's ethnic voices are not as loud or jarring, one has to wonder why such an exotic voice is needed for a superhero film set in a bustling, urban city.  The tribal sounding voices appear in many segments of the score, including a pivotal action scene, but they are often over powered by Horner's constant use of heroic brass music and gushing strings.  Yet the use of the voices is indeed a curious inclusion by Horner who has utilized ethnic vocals to greater effect in 'Avatar' and the 1992 film 'Thunderheart'.  It is also hard to establish whether the foreign sounding voices are meant to be African or Asian in nature, which may have been Horner's intention since he never allows us to clearly hear the voices as they are accented by heavy brass and "clanging" percussion which create an other-worldly sound that is not common in most Horner scores.

Still on the subject of vocals within the score, Horner also utilizes a solo boy's voice to represent scenes of Peter Parker/Spiderman's childhood also heard in 'Main Title - Young Peter'.  The sound is effective as the boy's voice creates a haunting, eerie effect and emotionally captures the untold story behind the disappearance of the hero's parents.  Spiderman's untold past is a major selling point of the reboot and Horner delivers pure gold with his ghostly, almost unsettling solo boy vocals for this aspect of the film, especially when the ghost-like voice appears again in "Saving New York" during a climatic, emotional scene.   

Critics have noted the playful charm that new Spiderman actor Andrew Garfield brings to the reboot and Horner effectively aids the actor's comical scenes with upbeat, animated music as heard in "Becoming Spiderman" and "Playing Basketball".  Initially we hear what is a staple of the score: ethereal synthesizer strings playing Spiderman's transformation theme which is a soothing, almost heavenly passage; but this is soon interrupted by urgent staccato strings and horns signalling Spiderman's full transformation.  The heavenly synthesizer strings with hints of an electronic choir appear in large portions of the score and one can't help but notice Horner's preference for this electronic sound which seems right on target with a modern super hero film.  In fact, unlike previous scores of this large scope, Horner never utilizes an actual choir with real human voices; instead this is replaced by thick, soothing synthesizer strings and electronic voices.   

His music for Garfield's clumsy and awkward scenes as he becomes accustomed to his new powers is feisty with playful French Horn, staccato piano and "swishing" strings - a combination very similar to Elfman's Spiderman score. The more serious action scenes find the composer at his best with tracks like 'The Spider Room - Rumble in the Subway' hinting at ominous undertones with brooding orchestral majesty created by lush strings in the vein of Bernard Herman's most dark scores.  The action begins with "stabbing" modern electronic percussion and one has to listen carefully to hear how innovative Horner has become with his orchestrations as we hear the horns "bend" and "twist"  imitating Spiderman's staccato movements.  These passages are accentuated nicely with "snapping" percussion.

Tracks like "Secrets, "the Equation" and the "The Ganali Device" present another curious aspect of Horner's music.  In many portions of these tracks, the composer becomes very conservative which is in stark contrast to his bombastic main theme for 'Spidey'.  He creates lush string passages accentuated by mysterious synthesizer strings and electronic choral voices.  One gets the impression that Horner is deliberately trying to understate the dramatic revelations happening on screen until the final moments of track 9 "The Ganali device" where he allows a variation of the main theme to soar with gushing strings.

The more emotionally charged scenes, exemplified by track 10 'Ben's Death', present more striking contrasts between Horner's loud modern action music (complete with pounding electronic drum pad) and ghostly ethnic wailing followed by a heartbreaking, but heavily subdued performance by strings.  The inevitable death of Peter's beloved uncle receives Horner's most dramatic string and piano combinations in years.  Listeners will be surprised at how quickly Horner can change the pace of his score from heavy, metallic percussion and strings to almost funereal passages with a holocaust-like atmosphere.  The action picks up again with Horner's trademark staccato horn and yet another surprise: Horner infuses the scene in which Peter seeks revenge for his Uncle's death with a "shouting" male choir similar to the use of male choir in Hans Zimmer's "The Last Samarai".  The sound is heroic but the use of the tribal voices may be puzzling to most since the plot is based in a New York inspired setting.

The puzzling aspects of Horner's "Spidey" score continue with his beautiful piano-led passages for the relationship between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacey.  Horner creates an elegant romantic theme first heard in track 12 "Roof-Top kiss" by clarinet and then a slow, mellow piano.  What is puzzling about his music here is that while the love theme is certainly one of Horner's best in years, it is performed at deliberately low volumes and Horner never really develops the theme much further than track 12.  Again, the listener gets the impression that the composer was adamant about being conservative and never overstating the music outside of the bravado main theme.  Fans will admire Horner for this brave move but will long for a lush, loud performance of the stunning love theme by the full ensemble.  Perhaps there may be a full performance in the actual film which was not included on the soundtrack.  One can only hope, since the theme truly represents one of Horner's most melodic statements in years and provides the much needed emotional heft for the real-life couple of Garfield and Emma Stone who plays Gwen Stacey.

The finale climatic battle between Spiderman and The Lizard has some Elfman-sounding brass movements as the music imitates the reptile-like movements of the film's villain in track 15: 'Making a Silk Trap'.  Here Horner lets the violent action music rip with pulsating percussion and loud, giant brass crescendos in the style of 'Avatar'.  His use of percussion in track 17 'Saving New York' is nothing short of genius as the music follows closely the "swirling" movements of Spiderman with "swooshing"  strings and loud drum hits for the "clawing" actions of The Lizard.  Long time Horner fans will truly enjoy these giant action cues as Horner displays a more modern action style that closely resembles his bombastic finale for 'Avatar' including the haunting use of ethic voices. 

What is particularly enjoyable about Horner's Spiderman action music is that the heroic main theme is never far behind.  While in recent scores such as 'The Avengers' composers are reluctant to blast themes during key action scenes, Horner ignores this trend as Spiderman's main theme consumes the final battle of the film with stunning horn statements presenting major key lifts for stunning harmonic effects that will certainly be a hit with Horner fans.  Here, the composer delivers with loud, heroic action music befitting the web crawler and safely grounding the score with satiating statements of the catchy main theme.

The final cues, "I Can't See You Anymore" and "Promises - Spiderman End Titles" adequately conclude the score with a mixture of emotional heft and heroic bravado.  The stunning love theme returns in the latter track and Horner fans will be surprised that he did not include a full string statement of the theme; instead we hear a simplistic, extremely subtle statement by piano and strings. What is clear, however, is the superiority of the theme as it moves in soft, beautiful statements creating moments of enjoyable harmonic splendor played first by strings and then a tear-jerking clarinet. 

The final cue covers a stunning rendition of the main theme on piano, followed by a major key lift into a full blast of the theme by full orchestra.  However, Horner leaves the listener wanting more, especially when it comes to renditions of the love theme.  However, given the tremendous success of the film, Horner fans have some time to petition for a full statement of the Peter/Gwen love theme in 'The Amazing Spiderman' sequel.

Overall, this is James Horner's most curious score in years, even the "End Titles" music does not fully reveal what was his intention for the score as we hear another stark contrast of loud action music and subtle emotional strings.  Many aspects of the score are highly sophisticated especially the combination of strings and synthesizer in tracks like "Metamorphosis".  The composer also exudes a truly matured style with his conservative, subtle use of the love theme and the soothing string passages for the other emotional aspects of the film.  However, as stated before his use of ethnic sounding voices seems out of place for a Spiderman film; the solo boy's voice is certainly a highlight but the tribal coldness of the ethic voices may be jarring for many listeners. 

Horner also offers no real musical identity for the film's villain.  Apart from the "lumbering" horns used in the action scenes to imitate The Lizard's movements, we hear no defining texture or theme for the character.  Danny Elfman created effective themes for The Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus for the first two Spiderman films; Horner's lack of a recognizable theme for The Lizard is indeed curious.  Many fans debated that Horner may have used his universally known four-note danger motif to identify The Lizard, however the motif never appears in the score - another puzzling aspect  of the film since few Horner scores are completed without at least one statement of his infamous four-note motif which is even noticed by film critics.

The composer does however succeed at creating a truly memorable main theme for the title hero and this will perhaps be the legacy of this score should the film reach the heights of 'The Avengers'.  Without a doubt moviegoers thoroughly enjoy a soundtrack with an easily recognizable theme that they can recall even after leaving the theater and it seems Horner is fully aware of this since he infuses the theme in almost every track.  The theme may be slightly too upbeat for a modern day take on Spiderman and lacks the edge of similar themes such as John Ottman's "X2" main theme.  However, given the success of the bombastic scores for 'Captain America' and 'The Avengers' - both by Alan Silvestri - Horner may be satisfying modern day audiences longing for film music which recall John Williams' American bravado music from the 80's and early 90's.  Horner's 'Amazing Spiderman' is an enjoyable score but not an entirely satisfying one since many questions remain about his use of voices, overly conservative love theme and lack of an identity for the villain.  Horner's style within the score is also significantly different and long time fans will notice his new use of electronic percussion and Elfman-sounding action music, as well as his return to synthesizer strings and voices.  While the composer does present a palpable super hero score with a remarkable main theme and stunning romantic motif, listeners will be left longing for more long after the end credits track.  One can only hope "The Amazing Spiderman 2" also makes use of Horner's catchy music and we can finally bask in a full orchestral statement of the maestro's majestic love theme.

Review by Timothy Austin   Don't agree?  Liked the review?  Sound off below.

Avengers: Music from and inspired by the Motion Picture

Category:	Music
Genre:	Soundtracks
Artist:	Various Artists

Review by Timothy Austin

It's clear that Marvel was certain that they had a huge hit on their hands with "Avengers", a prime example being the exemplary presentation of the movie's soundtrack album. They have pulled out all the stops for the film's music by assembling what can only be described as one of the best rock compilations in years with a barrage of rock royalty which include hugely popular band Shinedown, rock veteran Papa Roach, Evanescence and Buckcherry. 

Indeed fans of the blockbuster film and collectors of rock albums will salivate at the very scope of the album which varies from "torchy" rock ballads to heavy metal violence. The stand out song comes immediately at track 1, and surprisingly its from lesser known band "Soundgarden" with "Live to Rise" again. Obviously the best cut on the album, the rock ballad is powerful with uplifting vocals which speak directly to the struggles endured by the heroes of the film. The ballad is in the vein of "Hero" by Chad Kroeger from the first Spiderman soundtrack (which I consider to be the BEST song from a superhero movie), and is the sort of powerhouse anthem that deserves "Best Song" Oscar attention. 

Soundgarden

Being a fan of "Shinedown" I was excited at their entry here and the band delivers with the heavy metal song "I'm Alive" which is the sort of heavy base song befitting the Hulk. While not as harmonically pleasing as "Live to Rise", the song perfectly exemplifies the anguish of the heroes as well as their internal conflicts. For causal fans of rock, the tracks outside the opening cut may be jarring as tracks like "Dirt and Roses" rely heavily on the harsh metal rock sound with pounding electric guitars rips that may send any listener into a "Hulk Smash". But for heavy metal fans, this compilation is a dream come true and indeed the producers should be commended for combining such major names in rock. Rock veteran Papa Roach may blow out your speakers with the anthem "Even if I could" which brings musical life to more of the emotional conflicts in the film with towering rock vocals and rip roaring guitar accentuated by a heavy drum beat.

Another highlight is the uplifting "Unbroken" by Black Veil Brides which succeeds since it references the overarching "unity" theme of the film aided greatly by smooth vocals and pulsating rock percussion. More mellow is Scott Weiland's "Breath" which is one of few more soulful tracks. The always ethereal Evanescence offers another break from the heavy rock atmosphere with the power ballad "A New Way to Bleed" which again references some of the painful internal conflicts endured by the Marvel heroes. Perhaps because lead singer Amy Lee offers some of the few female vocals, the cut is a center piece with the band's usual bitter/sweet lyrics and emotional delivery. But the heavy metal sound is never far behind with Buckcherry's "Where ever I Go". The popular rock artist delivers pure gold with a more Gothic rock approach and melancholy vocals which perfectly reflect on the more solemn moments within the blockbuster film. The ballad perfectly bookends the masterpiece soundtrack which will certainly be remembered as one of the best rock inspired compilations in recent memory.

There is little doubt that fans of the film will be impressed with this fantastic range of rock artists and the album's ability to recapture the intense pace, emotional drama and heroic themes of the film. Indeed, few comic book fans will argue that this album is exactly what the "Avengers" should sound like; in fact few soundtracks have come this close to mirroring intense action scenes with heavy rock metal. Moviegoers who made the film the giant success it is need not hesitate to make this album a priority purchase since it allows the listener to accurately relive the intense emotions of "The Avengers". 

Tags: song compilations, heavy metal, comic books, adventure, avengers, superheroes, action, rock

Prev: Avengers: Original Soundtrack/Score by Alan Silvestri

Avengers: Original Motion Picture Score

REVIEW:  Avengers: Original Motion Picture Score

 Music by Alan Silvestri

Review by Timothy Austin

The most anticipated superhero film since "The Dark Knight" has already commenced its slaughter of the Boxoffice, with international numbers exceeding the 200 Million mark. "Avengers" is a long awaited team up of Marvel comics' most popular superheroes, most of whom had their own signature film debuts leading up to this huge team up in "Avengers".

But while "Captain America", "Thor" and most significantly "Iron Man" had thunderous success at the Boxoffice with their own individual films, surprisingly "The Hulk" failed to find a core audience on film with many fans selecting the original 70s "Hulk" show as the more superior interpretation of the green superhero with a bad temper. However, despite the set backs of the two Hulk movies, Marvel has a mega commercial success on their hands with the "Avengers". The plot finds all the heroes partnering to halt the World extermination plans of Norse-god Loki, who was exiled in the "Thor" film (2011). With an all star cast that includes Robert Downey Jr. returning as Iron Man, Samuel L. Jackson as fan favorite Nick Fury and Scarlet Johansson as Black Widow, "Avengers" is the boxoffice gold fans have been waiting for and the first superhero team up of this nature to be attempted on film.

The music scores for the various Marvel films have been diverse with a range of popular film composers tackling music for Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and Captain America. Iron Man has not enjoyed the best reviews for its music with score reviewers deeming both "Iron Man" and "Iron Man 2" as having mediocre music, while "Thor" and "Captain America" have enjoyed rave reviews for their powerhouse scores. For "Avengers", Marvel and distributor Disney turned once again to "Captain America" composer Alan Silvestri for the original music and as expected much of what Silvestri created for "Captain" returns in "Avengers".

The score is a mixed bag and I doubt whether it will live up to the expectations of soundtrack collectors and score fans who may be expecting the broad themes of scores like John Williams' "Superman" or the innovative atmosphere of Zimmer's "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight". Silvestri who is best known for his classic music from the "Back to the Future" film series expands greatly on the bravado music he created for "Captain America" with a bold, but forgettable theme for the "Avengers". His music here is very militaristic and resembles most of what he wrote for the first G.I Joe Film with constant snare drums, pounding timpani and urgent staccato strings.

What disappointed me immediately was the lack of an opening titles montage which has become standard for Marvel films. Danny Elfman's opening music for "Spiderman" is instantly recognizable even to causal moviegoers while the opening music to the first three X-Men films is some of the best in the genre especially John Otman's "X2" montage music. Silvestri opens the album with "Arrival" and for those moviegoers who relished every frame of the movie this sort of approach is fine, but for veteran score fans the track may seem trivial, even anonymous, since it possesses only a few strains of the main theme; the rest is brooding orchestral music that could have been written for any military influenced film. That may be the overarching problem with this score; Silvestri simply fails to give the Avengers their own unique sound the way Michael Kamen gave the X-Men a modern, electronic-heavy sound that is memorable even today.

"Avengers" contains the sort of music that can be placed in any modern action film with tracks like "Doors Open From Both Sides" and "Tunnel Chase" containing standard orchestral drama with the usual jarring metallic sounds accentuating the constant orchestral "swells" and huge waves of horn heavy action music. There exists several themes but none that specifically identifies a particular hero; instead the composer creates a huge bravado theme that appears when all the heroes are working in unison which we hear again at the end of "Tunnel Chase". This brings me to another disappointment; while the theme is gigantic in sound and execution, it is not particularly memorable and this is surprising since Silvestri is noted for creating catchy themes for films like James Cameron's "Abyss" which remains his most underrated masterpiece, as well as "Back to the Future", which contains a theme that is now referenced in thousands of advertisements and is considered a classic. However, do not expect the "Avengers" theme to receive many references since it's the sort of theme that belongs more in a Saturday morning cartoon than a film of this magnitude. What makes matters worse is that the theme appears in full form only in a few tracks which include the final cues "One Way Trip", "A Promise" and the end credits suite "The Avengers". What may have definitely improved the overall score would have been more references to the main theme or at least references to another catchy theme for one of the heroes.

What Silvestri does get right is the pace and atmosphere of the film especially in tracks like "Helicarrier" which incorporates giant brass statements, "swooshing", romantic strings and huge horn belting which again sounds almost identical to his music from "Captain America" with many shades of "G.I. Joe". The composer also incorporates electronic percussion beats in the line of the James Bond spy thrillers for sequences involving the agency S.H.I.E.L.D and its agents Black Window and Hawkeye. The "Hulk" receives his share of references not with a specific theme but with harsh metallic "thumps" reminiscent of James Horner's use of an anvil in his classic action scores such as"Willow". Indeed, there are few comic book fans that will argue with the sound of the "Avengers" score since Silvestri definitely delivers on the heroic, Americana sound. However, after Summer 2012, few will even remember the theme for the "Avengers" since there is really nothing redeeming about the quality of the main theme or nothing memorable about the entire body of the score which lacks set pieces.

The tracks simply blend into each other without anything particularly noteworthy happening and for a movie with this many action pieces and twists it's hard to believe that Silvestri failed to create any awe-inspiring musical moments. Key to the score's lack of "awe" may be the lack of a choir. In the final moments of the score, as heard in "Performance Issues" there is a snippet of choral voices which may simply be a synthesizer, but the remaining final cues fail to make an impression simply because they possess routine action music rather than the pulsating, choir-heavy climax we are accustomed to in comic book films. Indeed, a huge choir seems painfully missing from the final moments of the "Avengers" given the gigantic action happening on screen.

Overall, the "Avengers" score is not a disappointment but a missed opportunity for the composer to deliver a fully satisfying score. Silvestri delivered a more enjoyable soundtrack for "Captain America" and with "Avengers" he truly had the opportunity to bring together all the amazing musical opportunities for each of the Marvel heroes. This would have been the score to truly place Silvestri in line with house-hold name franchise composers such as Hans Zimmer, Williams and Horner. Instead, we get a serviceable score devoid of its own unique identity or brand. Danny Elfman's music for the original "Spiderman" series and scores from the X-Men trilogy possess more superior music; even Marvel's newest X-Men entry, "X-Men: First Class" has a more modern and sophisticated edge with a catchy main theme few can stop humming after the end credits. This is what we needed in "Avengers", a theme and sound that is exclusive to the beloved Marvel heroes. As a fan of comic book movie soundtracks I was truly anticipating a score of more sophistication. Sadly, what Silvestri has delivered is large scale music destined to be lost among 2012's most bland offerings.

Tags: comic books, alan silvestri, adventure, score review, action, superheroes, marvel, score, soundtrack

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Most Anticipated Films 2012 (Part 2)

By Timothy Austin

Which five films are destined for Box office glory in 2012?  The top grossing films of the new year will no doubt be five of the most discussed sequels in recent cinematic history including the final chapter of an iconic comic book hero. Here are my selections for the top five most anticipated films of 2012:

Men in Black III

There are few guarantees in life; but when it comes to U.S. Box office success, there is no doubt that Will Smith is the reigning king since his magnificent blockbuster Independence Day.  In 2012 Smith will offer fans of his lucrative "Men in Black" franchise another dose of alien crime fighting with "Men in Black III", this time with several intriguing twists. The plot surrounds Smith's Agent J having to travel back in time to save his beloved partner, Agent K, played again by Tommy Lee Jones, from a new alien enemy bent on disseminating human life.   The new cast includes former "Pussycat Doll" and current X-Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger as well as screen veteran Emma Thompson and Josh Brolin (playing a younger Agent K from the past).  The trailer reveals Will Smith in true wise-cracking form aided significantly with the expected otherworldly special effects.  While I thought the original film was a witty, action-filled thrill ride benefiting greatly from the chemistry between Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, the sequel reduced the characters to caricatures with a laughable villain who possessed zero fear factor.  Hopefully with returning Executive Producer Steven Spielberg, an attractive new cast and new music by popular composer Danny Elfman, this third entry will be a vast improvement following the near-disaster that was MIB II. 

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Summer 2012 could be owned exclusively by the Smith family.  While Will stars in MIB III, wife Jada Pinkett Smith returns for what is sure to be the most successful animated film of the year, "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted".  To fully understand how popular this franchise has become simply consider that NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams recently joked about the people of Madagascar having to "move it, move it" because of falling satellite debris; an obvious reference to the popular song from the original Madagascar.  When Brian Williams is familiar with your soundtrack, you can surely consider yourself a pop-icon.  In this third film Pinkett-Smith returns as the wise-cracking hippo, along with the entire all-star cast of the previous films including heavy-weight comedians Chris Rock and Ben Stiller, joined again by popular "Friends" star David Schwimmer.  Everyone's favorite band of castaway zoo animals are now lost in Europe and are being tracked by Oscar-winner and film veteran Frances McDormand as the voice of the hilarious Captain DuBois who is determined to return the renegade animals to their original home in New York. With few exciting prospects in animation for moviegoers, Madagascar 3 is sure to be Box office dynamite with a built-in audience of young children (and legions of adult fans), popular actors providing voices and a trailer that boasts vivid splashes of color, hilarious action sequences and hints of an another amazing soundtrack by enormously popular composer Hans Zimmer (Gladiator).  With the giant buzz the film is already creating, parents be prepared to spend once again on related movie toys, clothes and CDs. 

                                                       The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

To say that the prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is being highly anticipated would be an understatement.  Since the initial announcement by famed Director Peter Jackson that production would commence on the film, there have been hundreds of fan-made websites, message boards and blogs created to discuss the release of the film.  Lord of the Rings' fans are ecstatic that Jackson has decided to bring to life this early book by Rings' author J.R. Tolkein, which reveals the story behind the initial discovery of the Ring.  The film will focus on Frodo's grandfather, played by Martin Freeman, as he embarks on an adventure to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug.  While many of the original cast members do not make appearances, fans of the original film were elated with the return of Sir Ian Mckellen as Gandalf, a role that earned him a coveted Oscar nomination.  Along with Anthony Hopkins, I consider Mckellen to be one of the greatest living actors, and as seen in the trailer, he returns in great form to the role of the wizard Gandalf.  Watching the trailer one is instantly reminded of why the Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the most successful as the viewer is swept away by nostalgic images of the Hobbits' Shire, glorious cinematography revealing never-before-seen locations of Middle Earth and the majestic strains of Howard Shore's phenomenally popular original music for the franchise. With little doubt, "The Hobbit" will be among the top 3 highest grossing films of 2012.  

"The Avengers"

A superhero team-up of this magnitude has never been attempted on film.  In excess of six iconic Marvel Comic superheroes have been crammed into one gigantic action extravaganza and while there is a huge fan following for each of these heroes due to the successful Iron Man, Thor and Captain America films, this film represents a giant gamble for Marvel Studios.  Providing each hero with adequate screen time to gratify their hordes of fans will be an uphill task especially since fans have no qualms about publicly shaming a film if something does not live up to their expectations.  However, challenges aside, the trailer for "Avengers" is exhilarating and hints at high production values including grandiose special effects, gigantic battles and hair-raising shots of beloved super heroes fighting side-by-side.  With little effort the film will garner giant-sized Box Office numbers especially with franchise favorite Robert Downey Jr. returning as Iron Man.  The casting of "Shaft" actor Samuel L. Jackson as the iconic Nick Fury is a stroke of pure genius further adding to the appeal of the film. That aside, no doubt Marvel Studios is worried about the return of the Hulk character, who, unlike the other franchise heroes, failed to garner success with his individual films.  The original Hulk film, directed by "Crouching Tiger/Hidden" Director Ang Lee was nothing short of a disaster; in fact the film was so badly received, the studio was forced to reboot with a new cast, but even the second Hulk film, while possessing a superior plot to its predecessor, was met with few cheers from fans.  As a result, a new actor, Mark Ruffalo ("13 Going on 30") was cast as Bruce Banner/The Hulk in "Avengers" further fanning rumors that the Hulk's cold reception by fans would be the weak link in "The Avengers".  Obstacles aside, moviegoers from every corner of the web continue to list "Avengers" as a 2012 must-see. 

The Dark Knight Rises

Few will argue with me when I name "The Dark Knight Rises" as the most anticipated film of 2012, especially since the film's predecessor was the highest grossing film of 2008.  When images from the set leaked online, moviegoers went into a frenzy about popular actress Anne Hathaway in the Catwoman costume, a role made famous by Michelle Pfieffer in Tim Burton's 1992 blockbuster "Batman Returns".  The film has few obstacles as it aims to capture the coveted spot as highest grossing film of 2012.  However, one of those obstacles happens to be the cold reaction from fans to the new villains.  Much is riding on Tom Hardy and Anne Hathaway's portrayals of Bane and Catwoman respectively due to the fact that Heath Ledger left audiences spell-bound with his universally praised performance as the Joker in the previous film, which also earned him a posthumous Oscar nomination for Best Actor.  Fans have voiced their concern about Hardy's lack of a physique to equal the Titanic-sized Bane seen in the comics, as well as Hathaway's less than impressive Catwoman costume which comes complete with what appears to be giant-goggles.  The trailer boasts suspenseful sequences and hints at a giant showdown between Bane and Christian Bale's Batman, including a terrific special effects shot in which an entire baseball field appears to be collapsing.  Famed Director Christopher Nolan seems unaffected by the criticism of the new villains.  After all fans reacted coldly when Heath Ledger was named as the Joker and after seeing the actual performance ranked Ledger's performance above that of Jack Nicholson's version of the Joker in the 1989 Batman film.  With salivating fans, a much talked about cast and a soundtrack that is hinted to be one of Hans Zimmer's most brilliant, "Dark Knight Rises" is on target to be 2012's highest grossing film.

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Most Anticipated Films 2012 (PART 1)

Written by Timothy Austin 

It is no surprise that some of the most anticipated films of the new year are sequels with built-in audiences eagerly awaiting the exploits of their favorite characters.  While fans of action thrillers, horror, science fiction and fantasy will salivate at 2012's fantastic promise to improve on those genres, fans of comedy will be disappointed as Hollywood continues to capitalize on a resurgence in the popularity of super heroes, vampires and all things action-oriented. Here is part 1 of my list of the most eagerly awaited films of 2012:

                                                              "The Woman in Black"

Moviegoers' obsession with ghost stories and the supernatural is hard to satiate; even the critically panned "The Devil Inside" garnered a number one ranking at the U.S. Box Office, making it 2012's first successful horror film. Hence, there is no surprise that the fright-filled "Woman in Black" is trending on most social networking sites and the trailer is one of most talked about of 2012.  Produced by the famed Hammer Film Production company, which is responsible for classic horror films like "The Curse of Frankenstein" and "Dracula", the film is also receiving significant buzz due to leading man Daniel Radcliffe.  Radcliffe is considered Box Office gold due to the hugely popular "Harry Potter" franchise in which he played the boy wizard himself.  In "Woman in Black" Radcliffe must fend off a vengeful spirit haunting a village torn apart by a series of inexplicable accidents and suicides.  The trailer promises a truly scream-inducing cinematic experience with shots of Radcliffe maneuvering through an early 1900's mansion followed closely by a shadowy figure.  I have to admit that I am thoroughly excited by the trailer as Radcliffe appears in scenes of intense fright as he attempts to solve the terrifying appearances of the woman in black.  The trailer is intriguing with the ghostly voice of a young girl reciting a poem about the woman in black, while visually there are photographs of people with their eyes missing, Radcliffe clenching in horror, and a truly cringe-inducing shot in which Radcliffe appears to be staring through a dirty window unaware that there is a dark figure standing behind him with her eyes missing.  With such a thrilling trailer this film is a guaranteed Box Office giant, aided greatly by Radcliffe's huge teen girl following.  One obstacle is Radcliffe's role as an adult who must protect his son from the demonic woman in black.  Are moviegoers ready to accept the Harry Potter star as an adult father?  This is left to be seen, but due to the enormous amount of attention the film is receiving, "Woman in Black" will certainly be raising the hairs of moviegoers across the world. (Release date: February 3, North America) 

"G.I. Joe: Retaliation"

A highly successful action-film based on a series of Hasbro toys just proves that the possibilities of the Science Fiction genre are endless.  Fans of the original G.I. Joe film made it a Box Office smash, despite a cold reception from film critics and the new sequel has already generated maximum buzz due to the additions of heavy weight action stars Dwayne Johnson, better known as "The Rock, and "Die-Hard" star Bruce Willis, who will join returning stars Channing Tatum, Arnold Vosloo (from "The Mummy") and popular villain actor Ray Park (Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode 1).  With such an impressive line up of action veterans, "Retaliation" promises to be an early summer hit with a trailer that includes high octane action, spy-thriller intrigue and impressive new villains.  The heroes must now face off against new bad guys Zartan, Storm Shadow and Firefly who are classic villains beloved by fans of the toy line, original animated series and comic books.  Fans are already blogging about the anticipated bad guy team-up as well as the return of modern action star Channing Tatum as popular character "Duke"; Tatum is considered the Van Damme of the 2000's having received high praise from fans of the first G.I. Joe movie for his stalwart performance as Duke.  The preview also revealed what promises to be a special effects extravaganza with violent clashes between the heroes and villains as well as fantastical vehicles and weapons. Indeed, due to its huge fan following the G. I. Joe sequel will likely dominate any Box Office competition.  (June 29, North America)

 

"The Amazing Spider man" 

The original Spiderman and its sequel, both starring Tobey McGuire as the "webslinger", enjoyed giant financial success and the adoration of comic book fans.  However, the third film was so badly conceived that it completely destroyed the once lucrative franchise with many fans calling it the worst and most disappointing sequel of all time.  I cannot voice enough how thoroughly displeased I was with this third sequel which featured a lackluster plot with Spiderman in a ridiculous dance sequence, over-the-top love story and a truly foolish interpretation of classic Spiderman villains.  Not to mention the most underwhelming climax of any super hero film.  In fact the film was deemed so horrible, Columbia Pictures was forced to reboot the entire series commencing with the new "Amazing Spiderman" which will retell the origin of the superhero's powers.  Starting from scratch, following universal condemnation of the last Spiderman film, was a genius move on the part of Columbia Pictures.  The trailer is receiving fantastic praise from comic book fans on several websites and social networking groups as it depicts Spiderman, played now by Andrew Garfield fresh off his success as a pivotal character in "The Social Network", coming to grips with his new-found powers and attempting to win the admiration of new love interest Gwen Stacy, played by popular comedic star Emma Stone.  The trailer boasts spectacular special effects and reveals hints of a genuine chemistry between Garfield and Stone, who sheds her usual hilarious persona for a more romantic take on the classic comic book character.  Casting Hollywood veterans Sally Field as Aunt May and Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben - both fan favorites - is a brilliant move by the film makers, especially since the film will delve deeper into Spiderman's origin story and promises to reveal as the poster states "the untold story" including the never-before-seen story of Peter Parker's parents .  Beyond this, the trailer hints at a huge battle between Spiderman and "The Lizard" including exhilarating action sequences and eye-popping special effects.  It appears that Columbia has pulled out all the stops to remove the horrific memories of the third Spiderman film from our minds by including a tour-de-force cast, big budget special effects and even hiring hugely popular film composer James Horner, who has a huge fan following due to his memorable music from James Cameron's "Avatar" and the blockbuster soundtrack "Titanic".  Hopefully super hero fans will be gratified with this new take on "Spidey" which is likely as many fans are already referring to the film as the biggest hit of Summer 2012. (July, North America) 

                                    

"Underworld: Awakening"

Due to the monumental success of the Twilight franchise there are over a dozen major releases based on the vampire lore in 2012.  Capitalizing on moviegoers obsession with blood-suckers is the fourth film in the phenomenally successful "Underworld" franchise.  The franchise has a giant fan base, but producers have probably already assured this sequel's financial success by including two things: star Kate Beckinsale and her form-fitting leather suit.  Those two elements alone guarantee that franchise fans will be satisfied since the majority of the series' success is significantly built on male fans worshiping Beckinsale's jaw-dropping figure in her leather cat-suit.  In fact the subject of  Kate and her leather suit returning to the series has created most of the anticipation on blogs regarding this fourth installment. Beckinsale is indeed a major Box Office draw possessing a visually stunning appearance with facial features that are reminiscent of classic Hollywood stars Hedy Lamarr and Vivian Leigh (Scarlet in "Gone with the Wind") and a British accent that further adds to her allure.  In fact, I can think of no other actress that has so effectively worn a leather suit in an action film. Fans were disappointed when she did not appear in the third film, "Rise of the Lycans" which served as a prequel before the events of the last two films.  "Lycans" was less impressive at the Box Office than the previous Beckinsale films with many stating that star Rhona Mitra's appearance in a leather suit could not equal the pop-icon status of Beckinsale. Obviously noting this, producers ensured that Beckinsale (and her well discussed leather suit) have returned for "Awakening" which finds Selene awaking from a cryogenic sleep to discover a world in which humans are now the enemy as they hunt and destroy vampires and werewolves.  The trailer reveals that the humans have also been experimenting with what appears to be a vampire/werewolf hybrid which results in high octane action battles between Selene and several monstrous creatures.  Based on the trailer and several clips circulating online the film boasts phenomenal special effects, violent action scenes and incredible stunt work by Beckinsale.  However, the film's success remains rooted in Beckinsale's loyal male fan-base who will no doubt line up on opening night for the premiere since as seen in the previews, Beckinsale has never been more sensual in her leather suit. (January 20, 2012 North America) 

                                       

"Wrath of the Titans"

Film sites and blogs have been set on fire by eager fans of the 2010 film "Clash of the Titans" as the 2012 sequel promises more fantastical creatures, mythological intrigue and gigantic battles.  I was not entirely impressed by the first film, being a fan of the original classic version from 1981 as I felt the new version lacked the humor of the original and there was the impression that the film makers took the mythology too seriously resulting in stars Liam Neelson and Ralph Fiennes hamming it up as Zeus and Hades respectively.   However, there was no denying that Sam Worthington, who previously starred in the blockbuster "Avatar", was stoic as the hero Perseus aided greatly by truly frightening creatures and intense action sequences.  The trailer for the new "Wrath of the Titans" promises much of the same as Perseus must now battle for the faith of the Earth after Hades, god of the Underworld, has set free a new army of Titans in a jealous act to destroy the king of the gods, Zeus. What ensues is another colossal action/adventure that is sure to gratify fans of the first film and fantasy/adventure.  Without a doubt the film will be a titan-sized success as the previews reveal stunning special effects, breath-taking cinematography and intense battles between Perseus and some well known Greek mythological creatures and assorted two-headed monsters.  Indeed, 2012 will belong to sequels in the fantasy genre as films like "Wrath of the Titans" promise the sort of eye candy no avid movie fan can resist. (March, North America)

(Top 5 Most Anticipated Films 2012 - NEXT WEEK!)

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Best Films of 2011

Written by Timothy Austin

Moviegoers struggled to find a truly entertaining feature film in 2011.  While Independent Cinema enjoyed some stylish, well-told stories, major studio releases that promised a new take on old genres sorely disappointed us with lackluster plots, pedestrian special effects and horrific acting (we are looking at YOU, "Cowboys and Aliens"). However, ten films rose above the sagging Box Office disappointments and offered us our money's worth of compelling stories, strong performances and grand spectacle. Here is my reflection on the best films of 2011:

"X-Men: First Class" 

The original X-Men (2000) changed the face of superhero movies with sophisticated execution, sleek plot and the use of respected actors in key roles.  Since then, major studios have taken a more intelligent approach to superhero films as evidenced by "Batman Begins", "Thor" and now the X-Men prequel "X-Men: First Class".  Gone are the days of the over-the-top embarrassments such as "Batman & Robin". The latest entry in the lucrative X-Men franchise , produced by the original Director Brian Singer, does not disappoint with excellent story execution and Oscar-nominated actor James McAvoy as Charles Xavier, the role made famous by British veteran Ian McKellen.  "First Class" is a class act with a fast-paced, thrilling story centered around the formation of the famed comic book mutant team.  While franchise favorites Wolverine and Storm make no significant appearances, the film has a spy-thriller quality giving fans an insight into the origin of the now famous battle between humans and mutants.  Awe-inspiring special effects, jaw-dropping cinematography and a fantastic modern music score (complete with rock guitar) by newcomer Henry Jackman made "First Class" a gigantic success and a superhero movie not to be missed. Grade: A

"Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol"

The latest entry in the highly successful Mission Impossible franchise is a clear example of a celebrity overcoming horrible public relations by starring in a truly awesome spy/action thriller. In fact "Ghost Protocol" turned out to be so good that many moviegoers allowed themselves to forget about leading man Tom Cruise's cringe-worthy public stunts including the well mocked jumping on Oprah's couch and moronic statements that even offended many of his fellow celebrities.  In "Protocol" Cruise is at his best, offering us some of his best action sequences since "Top Gun". The plot is intriguing with hair-raising revelations and James-Bond inspired intrigue.  But the attraction here is definitely Cruise, whose stalwart acting seems inspired by a resolve to reclaim his throne as a modern day action legend. Grade: B 

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes"

This was indeed a huge gamble for 20th Century Fox since a "Planet of the Apes" movie has not been made in years.  Another risk was replacing the beloved "actors in face masks" with completely computer generated apes created by "Motion Capture" technology.  The gamble resulted in one of the most jaw dropping special effects extravaganzas of 2011 with the CGI created leading ape raising the hairs of many moviegoers with his realistic mannerisms.  "Caesar" indeed stole the show from the human actors as he was brought to life with the voice and mannerisms of famed motion capture and voice actor Andy Serkis, who is now considered a legend for his much praised performance as "Gollum" in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.  The plot is reminiscent of the previous "Planet of the Apes" entries but with more robust action sequences and awe-inspiring special effects.  Indeed 2011 was made better with this truly enjoyable Sci-Fi spectacular aided greatly by ground breaking cinematography and a bombastic orchestral score by British composer Patrick Doyle. The future of the "Ape" franchise seems bright with this fantastic reboot. Grade: A+

"The Artist"

Could a modern day silent film, with absolutely no talking or special effects, be entertaining?  The answer is a resounding "yes".  If you have not heard about this ground breaking film as yet you are truly missing one of the best productions of 2011.  "The Artist" is pure nostalgic gold as it harkens to the Golden Age of old Hollywood presenting a heartbreaking story about a famed silent movie actor (reminiscent of Clark Gable), rising to the top only to suffer a gigantic financial failure due to the introduction of "talking films".  Jean Dujardin is stunning as the ill fated silent movie actor, while Berenice Bejo as his love interest brings classic romance to this opulent film.  Despite the fact that the entire film is in black and white and there is no talking (except for a few lines towards the end to signal the rise of "talking films"), the production values are extremely high as the film makers pull out all the stops to effectively recreate the feel and atmosphere of a genuine classic silent film.  The result is a wonder to behold as each frame flawlessly recalls the magic of old Hollywood. I must admit to being a Turner Classic Movie addict and "The Artist" is truly a poignant tribute to Hollywood's greatest period; certainly not an achievement to be missed.  Grade A+

"Girl with the Dragon Tatoo" 

This film is addictively entertaining.  Based on a highly popular crime novel by Swedish author Steig Larsson, the film thrills as it introduces us to unconventional crime solver Lisbeth whose dark, most times violent personality scares the very people she is hired to help.  The film has a series of heart pumping revelations and thrilling suspense sequences that truly test a moviegoers ability to endure high octane violence. As Lisbeth employs her controversial system of crime investigation, the audience is taken on a truly frightening ride with  tour-de- force performances by Rooney Mara (as Lisbeth) and James Bond actor Daniel Craig.  The production values are commendable, despite a mundane and ineffective music score.  Fans of intense crime dramas will salivate at this truly frightening entry in the suspense genre which can be likened to Nancy Drew meets "Die Hard". Grade: A

"Thor"

Many were almost certain that Hollywood would get this wrong.  A film based on a comic book about an exiled god who must battle his own brother for the fate of his homeland is bound to inspire over-the-top acting and excessive special effects.  However, "Thor" vanquished those negative assumptions with an intelligent take on the god turned superhero storyline. What made the story work was the fact that the film makers did not take the mythology too seriously, infusing the plot with humor and sophisticated wit, attributes which often go missing from action based plots.  The casting is also right on key with newcomer Charles Hemsworth's suave performance as Thor and Star Wars veteran Natalie Portman's passionate performance as his love interest.  Anthony Hopkins, who I consider to be the greatest living actor, is masterful as Thor's father Odin, as he avoids any opportunity to become over-the-top, giving us an intellectual take on the King of Asgard.  Jaw-dropping special effects (including some truly frightening creatures) and lush cinematography aid the performances, giving us the best superhero film of 2011.  The only disappointment is composer Patrick Doyle's blatant rip-off of Hans Zimmer's music from "Gladiator"; but beyond the tired soundtrack, "Thor" completely satisfies. Grade: A

"Bridesmaids"

It was hard for me to imagine "Saturday Night Live" veteran Kristin Wiig in a leading role; especially since her comedic repertoire mainly consisted of manic divas and Broadway inspired misfits.  However, not only did Wiig deliver one of the best comedic performances of 2011, she also co-wrote "Bridesmaids" which few will argue was the best comedy of 2011.  The film saved us from the disappointing catastrophe that was "The Hang Over 2", with true wit, charm and a hilarious performance by Emmy-winner and new Hollywood "It Girl" Melissa McCarthy.  McCarthy's comic timing is brilliant as many audiences responded to her now infamous leg lifting routine which finally answered the question "are big girls just as flexible".  This is comedy at its best with a tour de force performance by the entire cast with many Saturday Night Live regulars, including the always entertaining Maya Rudolph.  Grade-A comedies were sorely missing in 2011, but "Bridesmaids" emerged as a thoroughly enjoyable film overflowing with well written comedy, hilarious comedic sequences and powerhouse performances. Grade: A

"The Help"

It is rare in modern cinema to find a film that truly inspires.  In 2011 "The Help" inspired moviegoers across the world with a tasteful plot which went beyond its initial premise of segregation during the Civil Rights Era, to tell a story of compassion and humanity's willingness to change for the better.  Emma Stone, who is quickly building a reputation as a modern day Lucille Ball, delivers an enthralling performance as Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan who writes a book about the horrible treatment of black maids during the early 1960's.  Academy Award-nominated actress Viola Davis is majestic as Aibileen Clark, a black domestic worker who is moved by Eugenia's efforts to bring change.  It is no wonder that Davis usually receives unanimous praise for her performances; in "Help" she is mesmerizing as she completely absorbs herself in the role with a motherly, almost ethereal performance that few actresses matched in 2011.  In fact, the only performance in 2011 that can match Davis' masterful delivery is former co-star Meryl Streep in "Iron Lady", with whom Davis shared the screen in "Doubt".  This is story telling and acting that is on par with some of most noted classics of the past and should not be missed. Indeed, "The Help" is a masterpiece that transcends the mediocrity of most Hollywood dramas of this kind and further reveals the stunning talent that is Viola Davis.  Grade A+ 

 "War Horse"

If you have yet to enjoy the grand spectacle that is Steven Spielberg's "War Horse", be warned: there will not be a dry eye in the room before the film concludes.  I cannot recommend this film enough as it delivers a heart warming story of courage led by a horse named Joey who captures your attention from beginning to end.  In fact, Joey's performance outshines that of his human co-stars as he becomes embroiled in a harrowing adventure.  The film introduces Joey as a beloved family horse but soon his world is destroyed by war and he ends up at the front lines of the violent conflict. What happens next I will not reveal, but the adventure that ensues makes for a truly remarkable motion picture that only Spielberg could deliver.  In fact, even Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and wife of Prince William was reported to have wept at the London premiere of the film further confirming the overwhelming emotion of the film's heart-wrenching conclusion.  This is film making at its best as you are completely transported to the 1900's with beautiful, pastoral cinematography so well done that viewers actually feel as if they are standing on the lush moors of England.  The music score by five-time Academy Award winning composer John Williams also aids in the film's tear-inducing effectiveness with sweeping orchestral majesty that only Williams, who I consider a "living Mozart" could create. Without a doubt, "War Horse" is the masterpiece we have been waiting for and deserves the accolade of one of 2011's best films.  Grade: A+

"Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows Part 2"

I must admit that I disliked the changes made to the Harry Potter franchise following the departure of original director Christopher Columbus (noted for his success with Home Alone and its sequel).  New Director David Yates gave the franchise a decidedly darker production with dim colors, less humor, stiff performances and bland cinematography.  The departure of famed composer John Williams also left a bitter taste in my mouth since Williams' music for the Potter franchise is considered by many as a modern day classic.  The editing was also quite different as Yates rigidly followed the plot of the novels making it hard for those not familiar with the J.K. Rowling books to completely understand the films.  However, with the release of "Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows Part 1" there was a noticeable change in the pace of the storytelling and with the sequel, "Deadly Hallows Part 2", Yates has delivered the best conclusion to a movie series since the "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King".  Without a doubt, "Deadly Hallows Part 2" adequately concludes the multiple story lines of the series, while going beyond the norm to deliver a high octane action adventure worthy of comparison with the original Star Wars.  Stoic acting from lead Daniel Radcliffe as well as a magnificent supporting performance by British screen legend Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall are aided by masterfully Gothic cinematography,  stellar special effects and most of all the most fear-inducing villain to appear in a fantasy film in years.  Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort is truly frightening to behold as the actor speaks in a snake-like whisper raising the hairs of moviegoers who returned for numerous repeat viewings.  This film satisfies the avid action/adventure fan on every level and fans of John Williams' original theme music were overjoyed that new franchise composer Alexandre Desplat infused the soundtrack with many well-know tunes from the earlier movies further enhancing the emotional impact of the film's grandiose climax. While 2011 will be remembered for many cinematic blunders, "Deadly Hallows Part 2" stands as a shining beacon of Hollywood's promise to spare no expense to satisfy moviegoers seeking a thoroughly entertaining fantasy film. Grade A+

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