Best TV Shows of 2011

As I generally know what shows to avoid, I wont be making a worst list here. Unlike games or films, if you don't like a tv show, you can just stop after one or two episodes so it's hard to judge any show off such limited exposure.

5. My Little Pony Friendship is Magic

Say what you will about this "show for girls", it's so infectiously upbeat and cheerful that it's impossible not to enjoy. Unlike alot of recent childrens television, there no cinicism here, no references to what's cool or hip, just life lessons about friendship. Just like writer Lauren Fausts previous show Powerpuff Girls, there is something about Friendship is Magic that attracts an older crowd. For me, it's the fact that, while the show is based off a line of girls toys, it seems to distance itself from that fact and create an entirely new world seperate from the brand it's based off.

4. The Walking Dead

While the comic has it's faults, it's still an engaging series that seems content to offer no sign of an ending. This fact makes it perfect for a tv adaptation as opposed to film, and boy did it pay off. Building on the strengths of the comic and filtering out the weakness, this is a taut story that is more character development than zombie action. It works wonderfully and changes enough from the comic to make it surprising to newcomers and veteran readers.

3. Beavis & Butthead

The dynamic duo are back and funnier than ever. The film clip commentary may have been replaced with MTV's reality TV shows, but it's still the same old Beavis & Butthead. Honestly, it's like they never left, the humour is timeless and the social commentary in every episode and interim segment is as clever as ever. It's good to have you back guys.

2. Game of Thrones

Another newcomer, Game of Thrones is one of those shows that grabs you from the start but never tells you where it's going. The storyline is intruiging and the plots are so well written that you're always told just enough to understand the world but never quite sure what's going to spring up next. I cannot wait for season 2.

1. Breaking Bad

 

It should come as no suprise to anyone that Breaking Bad is number 1. Season after season this show proves it is the master of storytelling, suspence and character development. Every episode is a slow grind that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Your never know when a character will snap, and when they do, it's often something explosive and terrifying. With the show wrapping up in 2012, it's shaping up to be one of the greatest TV series ever made.

Best & Worst Movies of 2011

Best

Let me start things off by saying 2011 was an extremely weak year for movies, one of the worst I can remember. There were no standout movies that I saw, which means that while I have named the following my top 5, I'm sure they will never feature in any other lists in future.

5. Paul

I was afraid this would be the movie that revealed that Simon Pegg and Nick Frost were nothing without Edgar Wright, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only is this movie utterly hilarious, but it's also quite touching, outside of the parts with alien dongs.

4. Tintin

While not as faithful to the source material as some would like, Tintin is a rollicking adventure that takes you back to classic 80s Speilberg. The pacing is tight, the action is exciting and the cast is spot on.

3. X-Men First Class

The surprises kept coming as many feared the X-Men franchise was doomed only to see new life breathed into it. Though the villains are pretty weak (Kevin Bacon excepted) the story of how Charles Xavier formed the X-Men is entertaining and humourous, something the last 2 films lacked.

2. Fast 5

How on Earth did a this make it into my top 5? Simple, while I've never been a fan of the series (the last film was atrocious), the film-makers realised they needed to change things up by making this a heist movie. Everyone seems to be having alot more fun this time around and it really makes the whole thing more enjoyable. Not to mention the fact that it has one of the greatest car chase climaxes I've ever seen.

1. Drive

This is NOT a car chase movie, this is a film about a secretive man who just wants to go about his life as a stunt driver/get-away driver. Equal parts quiet reflective character study and balls-out violence, Drive is a rare film that manages to make something special out of parts that really shouldn't work together. When done right though, you get something fantastic like this.

Worst Films

5. Pirates of the Carribean - On Stranger Tides

As if the last film wasn't enough, they just had to drag Johnny Depp out for another money maker. This is real by-the-numbers stuff. No-one looks like they're having fun, the audience most of all. The action is boring, the villain is weak and the whole thing just reeks of cash-in.

4. Bridesmaids

Billed as the Hangover for chicks, this R-rated comedy promises that chick flicks can be funny too. The problem is, it isn't. It's not because it's a chick flick, it's because there are no real jokes in the movie. It's boring from start to finish and at times I had trouble telling if it was a comedy or drama. Bridesmaids is an uneven mess that just doesn't work.

3. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2

How do you follow up the worst film in the series? Simple, make one even more boring and impossible to understand for anyone who didn't watch every movie the night before seeing this. The films are spread out over almost a decade, would a recap be too much to ask for? The climax of the film promises something epic and instead it comes down to a series of smaller climaxes that can't seem to decide when the film should end. An utterly dreadful conclusion to an uneven series.

2. Green Lantern

You know what, everyone knows this film sucks so I don't need to say much. Ryan Reynolds was miscast, the villain is a cloud of crap and the only interesting part (on the planet of Green Lanterns) is all but glossed over. Even if you're curious, don't waste your time.

1. Bad Teacher

 

And the god-awful film of the year award goes to this miserable excuse for a comedy. Cameron Diaz has proven herself as one of the most unlikable actresses of this generation, and while that should have worked here, it just makes the whole thing unbearable. It's not funny, it's not enjoyable, it's so painful to watch that I wouldn't wish it upon my enemies.

Best & Worst Games of 2011

Best

5. Gears of War 3

The series came to an end in a fitting fashion, by cramming as much action in as possible and finally giving me good reason to play multiplayer.

4. Crysis 2

Few shooters give you the freedom to play however you like, but Crysis 2 has some of the most satisfying gameplay of the year as you stealth, punch, and blast your way through invading forces.

3. Driver Sanfrancisco

Driver has not been this fun since the second game and it's in no small part due to the shift mechanic that allows you to take over any car at any time. Let it be known that sometimes the silliest ideas can end up being the most fun.

2. Portal 2

Just like Valves first effort, Portal 2 oozes with charm, humour and cracking puzzles. Now with even more toys to play with and co-op mode, this is further proof that you don't need violence to make a good first person game.

1. Batman Arkham City

What's better than a Portal game? How about the sequel to the much loved Arkham Asylsum. I may be able to pick faults with the plot but when it comes to sheer fun and time well spent, there is no equal. I could not put this game down until I was 100% done, and even then I still found myself flying around the city beating up thugs, it's just that good.

Worst

 

5. Duke Nukem Forever

Though I only spent a few hours with this game, I could already sense that it was a massvie waste of time, not just mine, but everyone who was involved in creating it.

4. Fable 3

The fable series is no stranger to dissapointment but where I found much to like in number 2, I found almost nothing to like here. The whole design of the game is just lazy, removing many elements that made the other games fun and replacing them with broken gameplay and poorly written characters.

3. De Blob 2

Never has a platformer bored and infuriated me so much. The dated time limits and lives system from 20 years ago is still present and sucks all the fun out of the proceedings as you make a mad dash to each objective. Couple that with the fact that the levels are excrutiatingly long and repetitive and you have a game that is a chore to finish.

2. Battlefield 3 - Xbox 360 version

I miss the days of open battlefields, soaring across the sky in a fighter jet, or travelling along the ground in a tank trying to hold control points. Now we have one of the worst single player campaigns ever, and a multiplayer so trimmed down from it's PC counterpart that it takes away everything that makes Battlefield fun.

1. Child of Eden

This is the reason I packed my Kinect away. With a story mode that only lasts 2 hours, and still manages to be boring, Child of Eden is the exact reason why Kinect is a terrible peripheral. The controls are painfully unresponsive and the lack of options in how you play it makes every level feel exactly the same. Not to mention the fack that the music is awful and the visuals are ugly as hell. This feels like a downloadable game from top to bottom and should never have been sold for full retail price.