Where did 2011 go?  Guess that Rabbit Year hopped away quickly…but 2012 is the Year of the Dragon.  (The Chinese New Year is January 23rd, so get over to your favorite Chinese place and celebrate!)  Such a mythological figure obviously bodes well for a year of geekery, but how about 2011?  Well, let’s see what folks here at Geek for e had to say about it!

Since we’re not all clones of each other, we’ve got picks here and there, based on how 2011 unfolded for each of us.  Here’s our look at what we loved best….

2011 In Movies:

Alex:  I don’t think I have any “Images I’ll never shake” for any movies.…

Denise:  So many to pick from, I can’t choose just one!  I loved me some Super 8.  A fantastic nostalgia trip with aliens, train wrecks and Stephen Spielberg.  Footloose (yeah, I said it), Final Destination 5 and Anonymous.  The Big Year, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, The Help…. But Midnight In Paris tops my list of 2011 faves, mostly because I’ve quietly nurtured a disdainful snooty apathy toward Woody Allen for years.  Woody, I’ve misjudged you.  Forgive.

Matt:  Warrior. [NOTE: seriously, Matt has been talking this film up ever since it opened.  If you haven’t seen it yet, you need to.  I need to!]

Rock:  The Rum Diary.  It wasn’t just Hunter S. Thompson’s words or Depp’s execution, it was the transcendence of Michael Rispoli who plays Depp’s trusted lieutenant into a marquee actor for me.  I really hope the Academy sees it when the nods for Supporting Actor hit.

2011 In TV:

Alex:  Awful?  OK – have to go with anything the Kardashians are involved with. That fake wedding. Their gold-digging mom. Manufactured garbage.

Denise:  The second season of Louie was even better than the first, if you can believe it.  The Vampire Diaries, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and (echoing Tatiana here) Once Upon A Time fed my fangirl jones.

Matt:  No idea as we don’t watch TV at my place!

Rock: Can I say Mad Men, or did it sunset in late 2010?  No matter – I’ll play it safe and say Entourage.  I’ll miss it, but it had nowhere to go but to an ending.  There’s a strong rumor mill pumping the movie continuation, but let’s hope they don’t go there.  That ragtag crew of Jersey miscreants had to be the greatest rocket ride to stardom to watch both the pitfalls and the promiscuous highs.  Fame just doesn’t work without your homies.

Tatiana:  I don’t think I have a solid opinion on any of the categories except TV. My favorite show of 2011 is Once Upon a Time!

2011 In Books:

Denise:  I loved getting back into graphic novels this year; Batman: Noël and the 28 Days Later series was amazing (yeah, I know 28 Days started earlier than last year.  But that’s when I read them, so I stand firm.)  So is the novel Zone One by Colson Whitehead; a post-apocalyptic zombie story that reads like fine literature?  I think I’m in love.

Matt: The Steve Jobs bio by Walter Isaacson – AWESOME Book!

Rock: I’m late to the party, with Ayn Rand’s ‘Atlas Shrugged.’  Quoted and tossed about in the first season of Mad Men, I finally had to pick this longtime New York Times best seller up, and it was as profound as I had hoped.  Just a great look in duality in man and mission of money and greed.  Capitalism versus idealism, objectivism and even some sci-fi.  Pick it up if you haven’t dived yet.

2011 In Music:

Denise:  Florence and the Machine’s new album is spectacular, and Adele’s sophomore effort 21 put to rest any one-shot chatter.

Matt: Hugo (the singer, not the movie) and Foster the People.

Rock:  Should I do the simple thing and cave…Adele.  No way, I have to say it was the year of Gaga for me.  Yeah she’s gaudy, looks like a coke whore, and shipped ‘sold out’, but I love me some tunes I can boogie to, and she delivered with every Top 10 hit.

Everything Else:

Denise: Baltimore Comic-Con rocked my socks.  So did the royal wedding.

Matt: The Dark Knight Rises – best trailer (or most anticipated) of the 2011.

 

Well, that’s it for us…what do you think was the best — or worst — of 2011?