As is the usual practice almost anywhere were column inches or post counts matter, writers such as myself take to their keyboards and make lists. I am no exception and, with a great deal of difficulty and toil, have managed to cobble together a list of what I think are some of the best things of 2011.

I don’t really want to bore you with a lot of explanations as to why I picked what I did. Suffice it to say these picks are mine and mine alone. Also, they are not in any particular order, mostly because I find it hard to rank them that closely. Or, I was just too lazy.

Either way, here you go.

Movies

Drive
The Artist
Attack the Block
X-Men: First Class
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
The Descendants
Thunder Soul
13 Assassins
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Hugo

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Takashi Miike is one of the greats. Aside from being ripped off by Quentin Tarantino for the past 15 years, he’s been a top director in the world of Kung Fun cinema for over 20 years, with over 80 titles, including Ichi the Killer and Sukiyaki Western Django, under his belt.

Now, domestic studios have gotten wise to his popularity and vision and his newest film, 13 Assassins, will be getting an American theatrical release. Here’s the official synopsis:

Cult director Takeshi Miike (Ichi the Killer, Audition) delivers a bravado period action film set at the end of Japan’s feudal era in which a group of unemployed samurai are enlisted to bring down a sadistic lord and prevent him from ascending to the throne and plunging the country into a wartorn future.

The film is getting a wide theatrical release on April 29th, so be sure to check it out when it hits theaters. In the meantime, we’ve got a new trailer for you after the jump.

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