1. How to Train Your Dragon 2
Words can hardly describe the beauty this film secretes in
every scene as a simple children’s story book is transformed into one of the
most jaw dropping franchises to hit the big screen. After the success of its
first film the How to Train Your Dragon creators decided to go for a more
personal move, having just as much heart and drama if not more than action and
comedy. To call this film a children’s movie would be an insult and anyone
shying away from this and the other latest offerings from DreamWorks should
feel ashamed. HTTYD 2 makes the top of this list because it shows that no
matter how you make a film it can be engaging to everyone and that building a
great story around a fantastical setting may be hard but never impossible.
2. The Wind Rises
It’s not surprising to see the latest offering from the
legendary Hayao Miyazaki be an exquisite experience but from a cursory glance
the film itself may seem uninspired. When people hear the name Miyazaki the
expect something like Howl’s Moving castle and Spirited Away, giant epic movies
with an otherworldly mysticism about them. The Wind Rises is a much more down
to earth plot about a Japanese aeronautics engineer who designs and builds
airplanes for WW2. This may seem weird but it works as a story of a man who
never wanted his machines to be used for war but simply doing what he loved in
the hopes that his creations could be for the benefit of mankind and not simply
warfare.
3. Guardians of the Galaxy
A true underdog story, Guardians of the Galaxy became one of
the years most beloved movies and paved the way for Marvel to expand their
movies to the stars and beyond. What’s easy to forget is that all of Marvel’s
current big hitters started out like this, bringing somewhat known people in to
a somewhat known world and turning it into box office platinum and shooting the
actors in those films to A-list status. Guardians of course was a huge risk for
Disney and Marvel but it paid off both literally and conventionally and its
success should be a testament to hard work, dedication and maybe just a little
bit of fun.
4. X-Men Days of Future Past
Marvel movies not made by Marvel films always seem like a
risky venture. The X-men series especially has been hit or miss in terms of
quality story and production which without the unified direction the Marvel has
can create movies that have the same teams but could come up stinking like
wolverines pits or shining like Xavier’s head. This film is of the latter
quality as it takes its comic book premise and runs with it. A more dramatic
story gives way to more enjoyable film that knows how to use its actors,
technology and give us exactly what we want in an X-men movie.
5. The Lego Movie
No one could expect what would come from a film simply
titled “The Lego Movie” but what came was one of the most imaginative films to
come out in recent history. And of course what better subject to infuse this
imagination than the blankest slate toys known to man. From face value the
movie may seem like a lighthearted adventure but what people might not see is
the intriguing messages placed throughout the film. This film also sports some
of the best looking animation utilizing a system that made everything in the
film be completely made out of pre-existing Lego designs.
6. Captain America Winter Soldier
Not surprising but still immensely enjoyable film that
brings the Captain out of the 40’s and into the 21st century. The
prevailing fact with all Marvel cinematic universe films is that while their
all grounded in the same continuity they are not the same films. The first
Captain was a period war film, Thor is a fantasy film, and Iron man movies are
all action packed science fiction affairs. The fact that all these films can fit
into their own groove and still leave us wanting more deserves all the credit.
The Winter Soldier fits perfectly with the espionage motif and while Marvel
movies may be getting over exposed they’re definitely not becoming boring.
7. 22 Jump Street
Buddy cop movies have all been demolished as a plot template
because the formulas been done to death, and even younger actors may line up to
these affairs and claim that they’re also getting to old for this. That’s where
the 21 Jump Street franchise comes to prove that though the formula may be old
it still has potential for a great hit. Focusing on the comedic aspects of this
genre, 22 Jump Street continues the story of the two unlikely heroes played
brilliantly by Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as now they tackle a college level
threat. The films astute self-awareness asks whether the film should do the
same thing or change for the better and the meta narrative blends perfectly
amidst a series of gut busting scenes until the movie decides when it’s time to
be over.
8. A Walk Among the Tombstones
Liam Neeson is not a stranger to cop centered thrillers but
this film will take people by surprise and make something to be remembered
passed a lengthy one liner. Based off the Book series of the same name this
adaptation creates a washed out world filled with crooks and hard folks but the
monstrous crimes of a pair of serial killers sends shockwaves through this film
that shook not only the characters but what it really means to not judge a book
by its cover. Keeping with clichés the film makes them its own and will have
anyone looking for a cheap ride pleasantly surprised by one of the years
surprise hits.
9. The Box Trolls
Anyone with the slightest idea of how a movie such as The
Box Trolls is made will want to give it all the rewards based on the
painstaking process that is stop-motion animation. But when studio Laika, the
same group that brought snap masterpieces Coraline and Paranorman to life, try
their hand at a fairy tale film with some steam punk added in they make animation
gold. A movie with as much character as it has puppets every seen might leave
you breathless either by how good it looks or by how funny the film is.
10. Book of Life
Fans of the animated series, “El Tigre: The Adventures of
Manny Rivera” will find an unequivocal treat in the design and look of this
animated adventure. Directed by the creator of El Tigre this film explores a
more hilarious look at the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead or Dia de Muertos to
be exact. The Book of Life is filled with amazing designs, great performances
and a nice moral to tie it all together Book of Life stands out amongst the
usual from the animation mainstays.
No comments:
Post a Comment