Yeah, I know…. it’s May already. How dare I get away with a top 10 list of upcoming movies in 2011 when it’s nearly half way done? Well, the start of the summer movie season, love it or hate it, is upon us and with it brings the ultimate popcorn CGI fests, along with the occasional Triple-A scorcher.

In my past lists, there were definitely some duds, but they each had an impact in one way or another.

So, I will not keep you waiting, my picks for the Top 10 must see flicks in 2011 are… *drumroll please*

Everything Must Go (May 13)

A return to drama for Will Ferrell? Sign me up. After Stranger Than Fiction, he immediately proved he CAN act if he wants to.

Hangover Part 2 (May 26)

After hearing a sequel was announced, I immediately cringed. However, that dread subsided after watching the original teaser trailer for the first time. After watching the full trailer, I was completely sold.

Hobo With A Shotgun (May 6)

Grindhouse films are extremely hit or miss, but when they do it right and all of the pieces come together, magic is born!

Submarine (June 3)

You may know him as Moss from the I.T. Crowd, but he’s also the director of this surprisingly fantastic film I had the pleasure of seeing at TIFF 2010. A VERY well put together love story, with a great part played by an always interesting Paddy Consindine.

X-Men : First Class (June 3)

My fingers (and toes) are crossed that this series has gone back to the drawing board after a disasterous 3rd act and laughably bad Wolverine spin off. Can the excellent Fassbender and McAvoy save it? Let’s hope.

The Trip (June 10)

Ok, so it’s already been out for a while in the UK. But this matchup with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon will make anyone laugh. The almost entirely ad lib scenes between the two are comedy gold.

Super 8 (June 10)

Yeah, so what… the finale of Lost sucked. I still LOVE anything Abrams touches. Everything I’ve seen or heard for Super 8 so far has kept me drooling for more.

Another Earth (July 22)

A more realistic look at what an alternate dimension could truly provide for the human race… if that makes sense. Looks like it could be very interesting.

Cowboys And Aliens (July 29)

Ever since the original trailer, I was simply blown away. Sure, it’s a popcorn flick, but they are great once in a while and this is an original enough approach to sci-fi that I’ll take it. Why they took away Craig’s accent is beyond me though.

30 minutes or less (August 12)

Ansari, Eisenberg, McBride, Swarsdon??? Yes please. Oh… and look at that, the director of Zombieland is doing it. How will this NOT be the funniest movie of the year?

Honourable mention

The Tree of Life (May 27)

Terence Malick has made some incredible films, and this looks like another visual and spiritual journey. However, if the words spiritual journey make you wretch, it might not be for you However, maybe Brad Pitt or Sean Penn can change your mind?

So, my list of movies to see in 2009 received quite a bit of traffic (and for some reason, continues to??), which took me by surprise.  I personally LOVE Top 10 lists, so it seemed only natural for me to continue with a list of not necessarily the biggest budget, highest grossing films of 2010, but some of the most interesting. Don’t get me wrong, I love the big budget, popcorn flicks as much as the next guy, but I can only take so much Harry Potter and Iron Man before I crave another Moon or Donnie Darko.

Anyways, ON with the list!! Here are the 10 movies you MUST see in 2010.

10. The Social Network

While there has been little released for this film, the fact that David Fincher is directing should be enough to pique your interest. Everything he has touched has been good, if not great. Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake and Rashida Jones will all add a very interesting mix to the unofficial biography of the rise of Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg.

9. Human Centipede

There’s not much to say about this, except weak stomachs need not apply. After being sent the trailer by my friend Steve, I quickly replied “Is this a joke?”.  Quickly discovering it was not, I scrambled to find it in any means necessary.  Let’s just say a viewing is set for the VERY near future, and I cannot wait.  It is in incredibly limited release, but I urge anyone who can find it, to watch it.

8. Machete

Ever since being lucky enough to see the FULL Grindhouse film in the theater (including Death Proof and Planet Terror), the action was broken up in the middle with the inclusion of what seemed to be fake trailers.  Well…. they were.  Thing is, Robert Rodriguez decided to take his trailer for Machete one step farther and turn it into a fully fledged feature film.

It will be ridiculous.  It will be over the top.  It will star Danny Trejo.  What else do you need to know???

7. Super 8

The reason this isn’t higher on the list is due to the fact it’s not actually coming out until NEXT summer. Hey… I cheated, but this year isn’t looking too stellar, so why not look forward to some ‘distant’ future releases?

But seriously, J.J.Abrams has delivered some pretty great stuff over the past few years and with Spielberg’s budget behind him, he might be able to produce something fantastic.

6. The Killer Inside Me

Michael Winterbottom has delivered mixed results over the years, but you can always count on him to create something unique. Being an enormous fan of Casey Affleck, this film is an easy choice for the top 10.  Casey has easily surpassed his brother in nearly every way…. which unfortunately, isn’t saying an awful lot.  I expect some great things from him in this role, let’s hope he pulls through.

5. Toy Story 3

While probably the most obvious choice for the list, it’s hard to deny that everything Pixar churns out is pure gold.  While the guys over at Dreamworks are figuring out how to get their latest fuzzy creature to crack the latest pop culture reference, Pixar screams ahead of them, both in the realm of visuals and more importantly, story-telling.  Toy Story 3 may be an unexpected sequel (I would have preferred a new Bug’s Life, but oh well), but I’m sure it will appeal to… well…. everyone.

4. The Other Guys

I can’t help myself, I’m a sucker for Will Ferrell. Ever since his stint on SNL, he’s clawed open and dug his way into my heart. He’s childish, ridiculous and over the top, but I don’t care. I laugh every time I see him, and that’s all you can ever ask from a comedian. The cast for this film is incredibly impressive, so I can’t wait to see if they capitalize on the available talent.

3. Inception

Just think of Christopher Nolan, Blade Runner and Children Of Men.  If those words get your mouth frothing, then this might be up your alley. Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen page and my favorite actor of the decade, Joseph Gordon-Levitt all star in this incredible looking thriller. It will perform terribly at the box office, but that’s fine… as I foresee a dedicated following upon its DVD release.

2. Scott Pilgrim vs The World

Even though this is only Edgar Wright’s 3rd REAL feature film in nearly 7 years, he’s already proven himself to be an A-list director.  With 3 MORE films slated for the next 2 years, he will be keeping himself busy. Let’s hope he can direct people who AREN’T his close buddies, Pegg and Frost.

1. Tron Legacy

From the second I saw the trailer first start up on the IMAX 3D screen, I got goosebumps… which doesn’t happen too often. I am crossing every one of my available fingers, hoping that Disney has allowed this film to go in the direction it needs to. While technology has obviously improved since 1982, I sincerely hope they haven’t thrown in too much unnecessary CG, which can be the case for a lot of recent big budget films *cough* Alice In Wonderland *cough*.