Favorites of 2011: Top 41 Movies of All Time (2011 Update)

If you're anything like me, you only skim "Best of" lists.  In fact, it's very likely you didn't even read that sentence, let alone this one.  When I click to see a list, I want to see a list.  I don't need commentary.  What I need is simple, I need to validate my own favorites by finding them on your list and at the same time scoff at you for the ones that shouldn't be there. Yet here I sit, typing away, compelled to offer some rationalization to the choices below and a perfunctory introduction to our journey through my favorites of the last year.  Creatures of habit we are (apparently when I don't think anyone is reading type in Yoda speak I do).

A few other things to skim past:

- No honorable mentions this year.  They are a cop out. If it doesn't make the cut, it deserves no mention.

- I have expanded my TV list to 15 and my movie list to 41. I'm seeing more stuff (150 movies this year) so naturally more will get ranked.

- This is for newly viewed items in the calendar year 2011.  This means the final half of last season, and first half of this season for many TV shows, and also means there will be movies that came out last year that I am just getting around to seeing.  But for me these things were new this year.

- This is a "favorites" list, not a "best of" list.  Embrace the subjectivity of art.  This is my list and it is influenced by many factors that might be unique to my perspective.  Having said that, I'm pretty sure its also completely infallible.

Here's what to expect over the course of January:

Favorite 15 TV Shows of 2011 (Jan. 6th)

TV "Have you not seen..." Video (Jan 6th)

Favorite 41 TV Shows of All Time (Jan 13th)

Favorite 41 Movies of 2011 (Jan. 20th)

Movie "Have you not seen..." Video (Jan 20th)

Favorite 41 Movies of All Time (Jan 27th)

(note: 2011 marks the 10th year I've updated this list, if you want to see a spreadsheet detailing my entire decade of sickness you may click here, you've been warned.)

(note: 2011 is the first year in the history of this list that no new movie has cracked the top 41.)

The Top 41:

41. Iron Giant (*)
40. Shadow of a Doubt (-3)
39. Gattaca
38. Shawshank Redemption (*)
37. Moulin Rouge (-4)
36. Groundhog's Day (+4)
35. Wall E (-1)
34. Searching for Bobby Fischer (-5)
33. Ratatouille
32. Liar, Liar
31. Sound of Music (+4)
30. Gran Torino (-3)
29. Monsters Inc. (+1)
28. Swing Kids (+3)
27. Apocolypto (+1)
26. Inception (-2)
25. Toy Story 3 (+1)
24. The Passion of the Christ (-4)
23. Dial M for Murder
22. Star Wars
21. How to Train Your Dragon (+4)
20. Vertigo (+1)
19. Unbreakable (-1)
18. Titanic (+1)
17. Up (-3)
16. Apollo 13
15. Avatar (+2)
14. Signs (+1)
13. The Incredibles
12. United 93
11. Toy Story
10. Toy Story 2 (-2)
9. The Matrix (+1)
8. The Hudsucker Proxy (+1)
7. The Truman Show
6. The Princess Bride
5. Quiz Show
4. North by Northwest
3. Finding Nemo
2. Singin' In the Rain
1. Lord of the Rings