The Best Films Of 2011: #10/#9

#10: TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON (8.5/10)- After the travesty that was Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), I had little hope of Dark of the Moon being anything but another predictable Michael Bay explosion-fest. Thankfully, I was only partly right in that sense: yes, the slow-motion action setpieces were there once more in full force, but this time the likes of Shia LeBeouf and Rosie Huntington Whiteley brought a surprising realism to their portrayals of the human characters, providing an unexpected heart and soul to the film alongside its exhilirating action, sublime soundtrack and above all its dazzling special effects, making the third dimension really seem worth paying for in its greatest moments (of which there were many!).
#9: THE HANGOVER: PART II (8.5/10)- I couldn't have been more surprised to see the sequel to The Hangover triumph against the odds, managing to still bring more and more laughs while innovating on the much-loved story formula of its predecessor. Part II could hardly be argued as bringing much to the table, yet the iconic 'Wolfpack' of Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifinakis shined brighter than ever. Add to that a stunning list of cameos from big names, and this easily became the essential comedy watch of 2011!