2011: The Best Year For Films? Part Three

PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES- Did it seem wrong that Captain Jack Sparrow's adventure had to end with Will and Elizabeth's come the climax of At World's End? Worry not, then, as the good Captain will return to roam the seas in search of the Fountain of Immortaility next Summer. Fan favourites Geoffery Rush and Keith Richards return here, but expect a film far removed from its predecessors!

KUNG FU PANDA 2: THE KABOOM OF DOOM- This was an unexpected film to be revealed given that Jack Black's fun animation of 2008 seemed to close off the story of fat panda Po as he beat the ultimate demon of Kung-Fu. Oh well- the panda and co-stars Angelina Jolie and Jackie Chan did fine jobs, so if they keep that up in 2011 all will be well

THE HANGOVER 2- This, on the other hand, anyone could have seen coming: the original Hangover was a shock hit in 2009, but a deserved one all the same (5/5), so a sequel was bound to come about simply for logistical and financial reasons. Nothing has been revealed of the plot yet, though we already know to expect laughs aplenty in Vegas!

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS- Not so much a sequel as a revamp for a dying franchise, First Class picks up where Origins: Wolverine (2.5/5) left off, tasking Professor Xavier with training a group of mutants into the first X-Men, and showing how his relationship with future nemesis Magneto began to crumble. Marmite stuff, to be sure.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART ONE- Depending on your gender and age, you may cheer or groan at this one. Taking the same approach as Harry Potter in splitting the final book into two, Breaking Dawn hits cinemas in November 2011, and will show the ramifications of Bella's choice to marry Edward Cullen while closing off each plot strand but inevitably leaving fans on a cliff-hanger until Summer 2012. If you're a girl, be very excited, and if you're a boy, well, don't worry: it's almost over.

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS 3D- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel was perhaps the worst follow-up I have ever seen (1/5), so news of yet another instalment did not bode well in my view of the franchise (which started off admittedly decent in its first entry, 3.5/5). No plot details whatsoever have been released yet, but provided the music's good at least we can anticipate a film with potential (given the original's popularity) as a feel-good hit to end 2011.