2011 Year In Review

2011 is coming to an end. Since all geeks like to obsessively categorize things, I’ve taken it upon myself to list the year’s best events below. Happy New Year!

Best Summer Blockbuster – X-men: First Class, the movie directed by Matthew Vaugh was released in June. Its stunning special effects and brilliant acting by James McEvoy (Charles Xavier), Michael Fassbender (Erik Lensherr/Magneto), and Kevin Bacon (the villain Sebastian Shaw) blew away all the other origin movies in the past, putting it in the same class as the Star Trek origin movie. It explains the unanswered question, “Why is Charles in a wheel chair?”, and forever seals the connection between Charles and Erik. Uncredited cameo appearances include Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) and Rebecca Romijn (Mystique).

Best Christmas Special – Warehouse 13 ‘The Greatest Gift’ is one of the best takes on Frank Capra’s ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ ever. The main characters play their original selves, rediscovering the Warehouse for the first time. The all time best villain, Roger Rees (MacPherson), in his full charismatic glory, was trounced at the end in a death defying hand to hand struggle and leap of faith.

Best Printed Book(s) – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest trilogy by Stieg Larsson. Everyone knows artwork is worth more when the artist is dead. Larsson’s (un)timely death in 2004, right after delivering all three manuscripts to his editor has helped the trilogy’s popularity tremendously. Compounded by the fact that the heroine is a modern day Sherlock Holmes and you have a main stream cult series.

Best Tech Toy – iPad 2. The must have for techies on the move. Its 10” screen and apps easily surpasses all its 7” cheaper competitors. And after all, it’s an Apple product. Need I say more?

Best Computer Game – Portal 2, a unique puzzle platform science fiction video game developed by Valve Corporation. The engaging female voice of GLaDOS, voiced by Ellen McLain, along with its unique physics allowing momentum to be retained through portals and a darkly humorous story has enslaved millions of geeks in the Aperture Science Enrichment Center, with the promise of receiving cake when all the puzzles are completed.

Most Melancholy Death – The death of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc., on October 5^th, shook the world into the sudden realization of just how influential the l’enfant terrible entrepreneur turned sleek marketer really was. Every major business and tech magazine ran a life and times of Steve Jobs cover story for the next month. Best One Liner on Steve Jobs’ death (from BBC America’s The Nerdist ). Chris Hardwick says, “The world lost Steve Jobs and we’ll miss him dearly, but thanks to a Horcrux, he lives on in Siri.”

Biggest Natural Disaster – After the earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale and subsequent tsunami hit Tohoku, Japan on March 11^th, no one could have foreseen the leaks at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. It is the stoic Japanese’ way to keep mistakes to themselves and suffer quietly while the world awaited news of further lives lost and future global impact due to this nuclear disaster. Last heard, wild monkeys will be outfitted with head cams to document the radiation level. Ever hear of King Kong?

Best 1960’s Redux– The well intentioned yet disorganized Occupy Wall Street movement failed to learn from history; therefore is doomed to repeat it. The police always win, because they have the guns. At least today’s 20’somethings got a front row seat for the ugly side of police brutality. Let’s hope they remember their history.

Best Back to Back Over The Top Weddings – William and Kate’s in London drew 24 million viewers. It allowed millions of Europeans and Americans alike to wallow in an escapism fantasy with a fairytale/real princess and prince’ romance alluding to better days ahead. Kim Kardashian and (insert groom’s name here)’s in La La Land drew 4 million viewers. It allowed millions of Americans to wallow in an escapism fantasy with a Reality TV princess and her handpicked prince’ romance alluding to more reality spin offs ahead. The latter ended in divorce six months later, as all Reality TV shows must end.