MY TOP 10 FILMS LIST FOR 2014 - Part 2

Greetings once again!

No need for formalities this time around. It is time to conclude my Top 10 of 2014!


(#5-#1):


5. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

I realize that not everyone has been completely sold or even interested in this Marvel film experiment despite its continued success, and there's nothing wrong with that. That being said, if you're a fan of smart espionage action thrillers, you really are doing yourself a disservice by letting "The Winter Soldier" pass you by. When you think about it, when ignoring the fact that Chris Evans is dressed as the American flag, that's really what this film is and it's a damn good time. Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlet Johansson make for very fitting supporters, the action scenes are gripping and well shot, and the story doesn't wonder aimlessly, just to name a few more positive ingredients. The one drawback is that this sequel does have continuation in its plot from the original "The First Avenger", so it would be recommended to watch that film first.

Whether you're fan of Marvel of not, it's hard to deny Captain America as the next big action hero.





4. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2

Try as they might, DreamWorks has never really been able to get out of Pixar's shadow. They have had strong efforts, of course, but nothing that has reached the same heights. Then, out of nowhere, "How to Train Your Dragon" was released in 2010 and caught audiences and critics off-guard with its gorgeous animation and wonderful storytelling in what could have easily been my favorite animated film of that year, except that was also the year "Toy Story 3" was released - so close, DreamWorks, so close. Be that as it may, a sequel was obviously inevitable, and I'm really glad DreamWorks took their time because "Dragons 2" is fantastic and well worth the wait. I've never been of the opinion that a sequel has to necessarily surpass its predecessor as I'd much more prefer it to be what it was meant to be as a worthy follow up and continuation of the story. DreamWorks hits that concept right on target with more breathtaking animation, a maturing of the coming of age story, and a villain that isn't to be reasoned with.

While Pixar did not have a 2014 release, it's possible that it may not have mattered. "How to Train Your Dragon 2" absolutely earns best animated film of the year.





3. GONE GIRL

This is the kind of mystery drama/thriller that I've been waiting to see for a long time now. A film that is already suspenseful up to the big twist reveal and decides, not to end it there, but to keep the story moving forward deeper in the game of cat and mouse. Ben Affleck turns in a good performance as the film's lead, but Rosamund Pike is the real game changer as his missing wife. As much as I would love to talk further about it, "Gone Girl" is so well crafted that giving too much away wouldn't be fair to anyone whom has yet to see it.

As a big fan of David Fincher, I am willing to say that this might be one of his best works yet.







2. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Yes, another Marvel movie, but seriously, what's not to love about "Guardians"? I mean, beside the fact that one of the best characters is a talking, gun-wielding raccoon? It is also not slightly impressive that one of the biggest blockbusters of the year featured really a whole cast of B-level bounty hunters that no one other than the more hardcore comic fans had ever heard of previously? Truth be told, "Guardians" clearly doesn't need me to defend it. The cast lead by the rapidly emerging comedian Chris Pratt is often hilarious together, the script is engaging and near-perfectly paced, and as expected, the special effects are Marvel-caliber. While it is a technical installment of Phase 2 and the final entry prior to "Avengers: Age of Ultron", I can think of no reason why "Guardians" couldn't be enjoyed on its own merit, even if you had no desire to see the other Marvel installments up to this point.

I would say to definitely check this one out!


And finally, DRUM ROLL PLEASE - My Top Film of 2014 is....

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1. DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

Okay okay, unnecessary theatrics aside, I'm sure very few would find this surprising as I've seen "Dawn" on many Top 10 lists in the movie community already, and for perfectly good reason, too: "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" absolute deserves the kudos. After all the time I pondered what film would land where on my list, I couldn't think of any other I had more fun seeing in the theater this last summer. Not only that, but putting it at #1 this year was further crystallized for me watching it home a second time and loving it even more. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" laid excellent groundwork back in 2011, and luckily for us, the filmmakers didn't fumble away a good thing; instead, they took it by the reigns and made the sequel into a great thing. I will say this, if Andy Serkis doesn't walk away with some kind of hardware during the big awards season, then there's something incredibly wrong. Considering all the great live capture animation work that he's done up until this point already, I feel his work in "Dawn" is easily his best performance to date. What helps his case even more is the fantastic story about the shaken peace between man and ape, the highly entertaining action sequences in the Second and Third Act, and an antagonist that isn't made known right away and can still be sympathized with when their true colors are shown.

I'm not saying that "Dawn" is perfection beginning to end, but it certainly raised the bar the highest for 2014 releases and for its own franchise all at once. The apes are back!

MY TOP 10 FILM LIST FOR 2014 - Part 1

Welcome to my list that were, in my own opinion, the top films of 2014.

I'm not going to spend too much time complaining about the fact that 2014 did prove to a tough year. There were many good films, but unfortunately, there was a lesser lot to choose from this time around that really felt beyond good and ascended into the greatness level. This list of movies did feel to me like these reached that level in terms of how much I enjoyed them. I'm not saying they're flawless nor am I saying they will go down in cinematic history as classics, but I will say that out of the films I've been able to view so far this year (and there were so many still to see), these stood out the most to me.

Let's get started!

The first batch are the films that I have not been able to see yet but still plan to. In my mind, had I seen these films, they may have been up for consideration:

1. BIG EYES
2. BLUE RUIN
3. UNDER THE SKIN
4. JERSEY BOYS
5. THE RAID 2

Next up, here are the Honorable Mentions that I felt were quite good but just felt short of the Top 10:

1. CHEF
2. BIG HERO 6
3. LOCKE
4. BOYHOOD

And now, finally, the TOP 10 (#10-#6):


10. THE SKELETON TWINS

When I think Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig, I automatically gravitate to a comedy frame of mind, and "The Skeleton Twins" definitely has comedy, but it's mainly there to sweeten what is nearly a straight forward drama about two paternal twins that are both defeated and directionless in their lives. To make it even more tense, they've been estranged from each other for the last 10 years and tried to commit suicide on the same day. I'm not sure if drama is Hader's and Wiig's strong suit just yet, but to ignore the fact that they were both pretty outstanding in this film would be completely unfair. Considering some of the depressing lows that "Skeleton Twins" explores, I found it pretty amazing that the film was still illuminated with charm that didn't feel forced, nor did it sugarcoat the fact that being true to one's self can have destructive consequences on the path to the greater good.

This is one I'll be happily revisiting in the future.



9. EDGE OF TOMORROW

I mentioned in my Bottom 5 list that I try not to be the guy that leans too much towards judging a book by its cover, or in this case, a film by its lead actor. Alas, I am not perfect, and "Edge of Tomorrow" proved that point. I do not hide the fact that I am not Tom Cruise's biggest fan, and when "Edge" made its theatrical debut, the fact that he was in it caused me to write it off completely. However, after many an urging, I decided to give it a chance, and let me say, I'm glad I was wrong. "Edge of Tomorrow" is a hell of a lot of fun with a "Groundhog Day" premise mixed with impressive special effect alien combat. Tom Cruise did well at what Tom Cruise does well, but the selling point for me had to be Emily Blunt whom continues to prove she can hold her own in a testosterone driven thrill ride.

There's really not much more I can say that hasn't already been said. This one kicks ass and takes names.





8. THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

For Wes Anderson, it seems that the sky is the limit, and he is certainly trending in that direction. In the months leading up to the release of "Budapest", I wondered how Anderson was going to surpass the bar that he himself raised with "Fantastic Mr. Fox" and "Moonrise Kingdom". I wouldn't say this latest effort greatly jettisoned that momentum, but it easily kept it going in the right direction. The dialogue was quirky and witty among the all-star cast which has grown to be expected from Anderson, and the added hint of melancholy helped separate "Budapest" from his previous works. I agree with the general consensus that this film maybe won't bring any new fans to the table, but it should certainly satisfy the ones already there.

I'm anxiously awaiting the year I can put Anderson at #1.





7. THE LEGO MOVIE

Just when one might think that computer animated films were running out of tricks, here arrives "The LEGO Movie" to stamp out that pessimism. Great humor and quality voice acting is one thing, but completely going all out to make a world completely comprised of Legos and making it look amazing is another altogether. Let's just say, for how much I loved playing with Legos as a child, I'm glad I was able to just sit back and relax to watch the hard work the filmmakers went through to create this beast. Oh, and having a story that tells children to dive into their imaginations is pretty tasty icing on the cake.

It's awesome!







6. NIGHTCRAWLER

A film about a morally bankrupt man whom also happens to preach about the virtues of a hard day's work? If enjoying a movie like this is wrong, then I don't want to be right! Jake Gyllenhaal was fantastic as a petty thief that finds out there's good money in filming crime in Los Angeles and then selling it to the local news station; so good, in fact, that he successfully makes you feel a little bit dirty and grimy for anxiously anticipating what comes next. The film does move a little slowly at first, but trust me, the steady build up to the last 30 minutes is well worth the wait. Let me put it this way, just when you think the character has reached his limits, you are likely to be proven wrong.

One of the best of its kind this year!



COMING TOMORROW: Part 2 (#5-#1)

TOP 5 MOST DISAPPOINTING FILMS OF 2014

Happy 2015 Everyone!

It's that time of year to reflect back on all the new films released in 2014.

The trend seems to be that the Top 10 Best/Favorite Films are done first followed by the Bottom 10. I thought I would change it up slightly and do my bottom votes first. I didn't have 10 films to fill the list with so I opted to do a Bottom 5, or in this case, "Top 5 Most Disappointing". The reason being is that I try my best avoid any movies that look like a waste of time from the jump; however, it is not my intention to come off as a stuffy snob that would know better than anyone else. Over the years, I've learned to trust my gut feelings when it comes to movies, and I believe I have about a 98% success rate that helps me weed out the "I can't believe a studio funded this" type of film from my scope. The films on this list were the ones I had high, or at least some hope for, and they came either horrendously short or frustratingly short of being great.

So, without any further rambling, let's do this thing:


5. MALEFICENT

This probably isn't the greatest example of a "disappointment" worthy of this list because the bar shouldn't have been held that high to begin with. Yes, as a nearing 30-year-old man, I still hold Disney on a fairly tall pedestal due to their top quality works, especially in animation, Live action, on the other hand, I'm more torn on. Obviously, a company is bound to trend to where the money is, and the last three live action outings have proved lucrative; I just wish the quality matched the rewards. "Alice in Wonderland" from 2010 played as a sequel, and while it didn't catch everybody's fancy so to speak, I did enjoy that one quite a bit. "Oz the Great and Powerful" from 2012 was penned as a prequel to the original "Wizard of Oz", and I was intrigued by the idea overall, but the final product felt pretty flat when all was said and done. This year, Disney opted to do a prequel/parallel to "Sleeping Beauty" with 2014's "Maleficent" and placed Angelina Jolie in the titular role. As I stated in my review, Jolie did the best she could with what she had the work with, but even she couldn't save it from being terrible. The story was a boring mess, the animation was appallingly sub-par for a Disney product, and I'm still baffled how the filmmakers managed to make the three fairies so infuriatingly annoying. I'm glad I only spent $2 to rent this instead of going to the theater, and even then, I kind of wanted my money back.

Disney, you're better than this. Next up on the live action slab is "Cinderella". Forgive me if my excitement is on the tempered side.


4. THE JUDGE

As I mentioned in my review, I didn't hate "The Judge". Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall in the same movie is pretty difficult to condemn, and the film had it's upsides; unfortunately, that's the main problem. If a movie has the same amount of peaks as it does valleys, the average is a middle-of-the-road drama that sadly won't be too memorable due to the filmmakers trying to make it more than it needed to be.

A near miss, but a miss just the same.







3. 22 JUMP STREET

At least once a year, despite how much I tried to avoid it, I'm concluding that "22 Jump Street" making this list was a byproduct of me falling victim to the Hype Machine. Audiences and professional critics alike were giving it similar high praise to its predecessor (one I thoroughly enjoyed), and with the same cast returning to a premise where the big joke of the film was making fun of sequels in general, I couldn't help but get sucked in. "22" had its gut-buster moments to be sure, although they were much further apart than in "21" for me, and didn't nearly live up to what many people were making it sound like.

I don't know, maybe I was in an off mood that day, but I didn't really see what all the hoopla was about.




2. MUPPETS MOST WANTED

I will admit right away that, yes, in my initial review of "Muppets Most Wanted", I gave the film approval. Not long after that, I began to realize that my love for the Muppets jaded me and lead me astray. If "Most Wanted" doesn't make the naysayers of Jason Segel's fan project back in 2011 see it in a different light, then I can't imagine anything will. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and I'm not debating that, but at least Segel understood what he was working with and made an admirable finished piece; none of that can be claimed about "Most Wanted". Never, any in any circumstance, should the Muppets take the background in their own movie. Sure, the actors can have their time, but it's not supposed to be about them, that's why they were referred to as "guests" back during the TV show.

I believed and hoped that the Muppets were on the cusp of a comeback, and I still do hope that's the case. Just as much as I hope "Most Wanted" didn't stop that dead in its tracks.


1. NOAH

Addressing this right away, no, I was not disappointed with "Noah" because it didn't follow the well-known biblical story of Noah's Ark to an absolute point. I'm not sure whom in their right mind would go into a Darren Aronofsky film expecting it to be by the book; that's not his style, whether you find him and his films to be pretentious or not. My issue with "Noah" was after taking into regard the talented cast, the talent behind the camera, and the commendable special effects that the subject material called for, there was no reason for this movie to be as boring as it was. Hell, there were a few intervals this year where I forgot about it entirely. It wasn't until I sat down trying to think of all the films I watched earlier this year when it dawned on me that "Oh yeah, I saw 'Noah', too."

After "The Wrestler" and "Black Swan", I couldn't help but be dumbfounded by this one.


That concludes my Top Disappointing Films of 2014. Up next: My Top 10 Favorite Films of 2014!