Get Out
Get Out is a satirical horror comedy about an interracial couple whose relationship is put to the test after they pay a visit to the girl's parents at their countryside estate. Jordan Peele knocks the ball out of the park in this, his directorial debut. The film also boasts a breakout performance from Daniel Kaluuya, who plays the black boyfriend, and one of the most wildly original plot twists to be seen all year.
Logan
Hugh Jackman was back as Wolverine this year in his last outing as the beloved X-Men character. And what a final outing it was too, as the Australian actor gave what was easily his strongest performance as the character till date. Logan is far from your typical superhero movie. It is a movie that eschews the tropes of the superhero tentpole in favor of shedding light on what makes its central hero tick.
John Wick: Chapter 2
John Wick: Chapter 2 is the rare sequel that manages to surpass its predecessor in every way. The movie boasts more thrills and action, while also expanding upon the lore of the assassins hiding in plain sight in its mysterious underworld. Keanu Reeves reprises the titular role, but this time, he is joined by Common, who plays a rival assassin, as well as Laurence Fishburne, who plays an underground crime lord.
Wonder Woman
Following her brief appearance in last year's Batman v Superman, fans of the DC heroine, Wonder Woman, have been looking forward to her first solo outing. Thankfully, they didn't have to wait very long before she received the superhero origin story treatment. The fact that said treatment didn't suck was of course a welcome relief, and a much-needed win for the faltering DC Extended Universe.
Baby Driver
Ansel Elgort stars as the titular Baby in this unconventional heist movie about a getaway driver struggling to get away from a life of crime. The film also stars Kevin Spacey and Jamie Foxx, and was directed by Edgar Wright, the man behind the Three Flavours Cornetto film trilogy. What sets Baby Driver apart from others like it is the fact that the entire movie is set against a killer soundtrack, resulting in some truly unbelievably kickass moments.
War of the Planets of the Apes
The final installment of the Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy was met with high praise this year. The movie brings the story of Caesar and his band of ape companions to a satisfying close, with one of the strongest endings to a film trilogy in recent memory. Continuing the trend set by previous entries, the movie once again sets a benchmark for CGI and performance-based special effects.
IT
2017 was a great year for Stephen King adaptations, with both The Dark Tower and IT receiving some big screen love. But of the two movies, it was IT that proved to be the runaway success, opening to rave reviews from critics and going on to become the highest grossing horror film of all time. Bill Skarsgård plays the eponymous IT, a shape-shifting clown terrorizing children in the small town of Derry, Maine.
Blade Runner 2049
Not very often does a sequel take 35 years to make. But when that sequel is as exceptionally good as Blade Runner 2049, then you can say that it was well worth the wait. Set several years after the events of the 1982 original, the new film sees Harrison Ford reprising his role as Rick Deckard, a retired blade runner who has since gone into hiding. He is joined by Ryan Gosling who plays K, a new class of replicant who works for the LAPD as one of the eponymous blade runners.
Thor: Ragnarok
Thor: Ragnarok is the third film in the Thor franchise. It has Chris Hemsworth reprising his role as the titular god of thunder, but this time around, he is joined by Mark Ruffalo as the Incredible Hulk. Following a string of unfortunate events, the duo find themselves stuck on an alien planet where they are forced to fight in the gladiatorial Contest of Champions. Directed by Taika Waititi, the man behind the Team Thor series of shorts, the film marks the most comedic entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
The most anticipated film of the year also happens to be the last one to make the cut in my list of favorite movies. Star Wars: The Last Jedi picks up where Star Wars: The Force Awakens left off, in what is essentially the latest chapter in the Skywalker saga. In the film, Rey tries to convince a reluctant Luke Skywalker to train her in the ways of the force, while The First Order, led by the villainous Kylo Ren, moves to crush what remains of the Rebel Alliance.
And the winner is...
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
It's been roughly two weeks since I saw Star Wars: The Last Jedi at the cinema and dear lord am I still trying to recover from the pure awesomeness of it all. I've already waxed lyrical about the things I loved about the movie in my spoiler-free review, so no point rehashing the same points here. What I would say though is this: the filmmakers had a choice between doing something fresh and something that was ultimately safe. I'm more than pleased that they'd gone with the former. The consequence of that decision is that we now have a worthy addition to the franchise that we can look back on fondly, as we revel at just how bold and groundbreaking it had been.
I'm glad to see your positive, glowing endorsement of the new Star Wars. That's kind of hard to find.
ReplyDeleteLol. I know what you mean. I was frankly surprised by the level of backlash from fans the film has been receiving, but I know where they are coming from.
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