Happy New Year, everybody! It's that time again, because I love talking about movies. Ironically, I don't put out that many movie reviews here. That will change, though. Making reviews takes a lot of thought and process for me, and it all depends on how much I can talk about one single movie and every single important aspect.
As the decade was going by, I was starting to notice a pattern where the odd-numbered years of the 2010s are the weakest. 2015 is not a bad year; in fact, it's better than 2011 and 2013. It's just that 2014 is one of the best years in cinema with so many significant titles that if I remade my Top 14 list, it would turn into a Top 20. Think of last year and this year like a balloon. 2014 inflates with more and more great titles, but then 2015 starts and it deflates.
Regardless, there were enough films I watched this year that I deem great. Only one criterion, though: I am only including films that first premiered this year, at least in a film festival or in its country of origin. That means I'm booting off Kingsman: The Secret Service and When Marnie Was There, since those first premiered in a film festival and Japan last year, respectively.
But first, some honorable mentions:
- The Age of Adaline - I liked the idea of an immortal person letting time go by and I think Blake Lively does a fantastic job with the role. The story does not exactly break any new ground since the concept could have been explored a little more, but I liked it enough.
- Paper Towns - It provides an engaging mystery topped off with amazing character interactions that made it on the same level of enjoyment as The Fault in Our Stars.
- Ant-Man - Marvel Studios continues to surprise us by giving yet another obscure superhero his own film and works overall. It is by far the best Edgar Wright film that is not directed by Edgar Wright.
- Spectre - A good entry in the James Bond franchise, thanks to the acting, humor, action sequences, and cinematography. However, the script was lacking in some parts that it could have benefited for one more rewrite. It's good, but not good enough to make it to the Top 10.
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 - A decent conclusion to The Hunger Games series, but nothing that spectacular.
- The Good Dinosaur - While not one of Pixar's strongest movies, it still has great characters, funny jokes, and really well-done dramatic moments that make it an okay film on its own.
10. Ex Machina
The best aspect of this movie is its atmosphere. It reminds me a bit of The Shining, in which due to its few main characters and only one main setting, it gives a feeling of isolation and helplessness. The film has a sort of slow pace that helps with the uneasiness.
The unsettling atmosphere is also accompanied by the cast of characters. Domhnall Gleeson is a character to relate with as he enters this world where nothing is probably as it seems. Oscar Isaac does a great job playing this eccentric CEO who is also pretty likable.
The actress who steals the show, however, is Alicia Vikander as the android, Ava. Apart from her memorable design, she gives a pretty subdued performance, from the way she interacts with Domhnall Gleeson to the way she moves. It's quite uncanny.
Ex Machina is a pretty tense thriller with philosophical themes on A.I. that was pretty easy to swallow. After it ended, it left me thinking more about what I just watched. It's one film you have to approach without knowing too much in order to get the full gist of it.
9. The Peanuts Movie
All the characters are quickly identifiable, from the vain Lucy to the down-on-his luck Charlie Brown. Heck, Charlie Brown is a character to root for as he tries his best to impress this girl he has a crush on. Things hardly go the way he wants them to be, but I just love his determination to reach that goal of his.
I also liked that even though the entire film is CGI, it managed to resemble the 2D art style and captured the cheapness of the original shorts while still being nice to look at.
I did have an issue with the movie containing modern day music that kind of taints its timeless feel. However, seeing as how the setting is already anachronistic with a 1950's neighborhood and a disco ball from the 1970's, I let it pass.
Some might complain that the Snoopy vs. the Red Baron subplot did nothing but pad out the movie, but I found the scenes entertaining enough, and they sort of parallel with Charlie Brown's story. I don't know how well the movie took liberties with the source material or stayed true to it, but I think this is a great way to introduce new audiences to Peanuts. I liked it so much that I consider it Blue Sky Studios' best film to date, though that really isn't saying much.
8. Avengers: Age of Ultron
It's great to see the original cast joining together again to fight an ultra-baddie. I found myself liking the character interactions even more that I thought greatly humanized each of the cast. Even some of the newer characters like Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and the Vision are also just as great and have enough screen time to leave an impact on the audience.
Ultron proves to be a decent villain. Sure, he makes just as much funny quipping as the Avengers do, but he does actually serve as a threat. Let's not also forget how creepy and awesome he delivers his "I have no strings" line. Never did I know that a villain can make Pinocchio scary.
The film also delivers on a lot of great action scenes. From the opening, to the fight between Hulk and the Hulkbuster, to the thrilling climax near the end, they are all well-choreographed and have enough eye-popping visuals to keep the audience's attention.
Thanks to some clever writing, hilarious comedy, thrilling action sequences, stunning visual effects, and deeper character moments, Age of Ultron is one that is worthy of lifting Thor's hammer.
7. Creed
Michael B. Jordan plays Adonis Johnson who decides to become a boxer like his late father, Apollo Creed. It's there that he seeks training from Rocky Balboa, once again played by Sylvester Stallone. Michael B. Jordan just kills it as Adonis. His character has a troubled past, never even knowing his father who was killed before he was born and trying to find himself in the process.
As for Rocky himself, I have to say that this is Stallone's best performance in years. There is still a bit of the Italian Stallion who we've come to love in the previous films while also filling in his trainer, Mickey's shoes. His chemistry with Michael B. Jordan's Adonis is nothing short of amazing. I like the mentor-student bonding that they both have. It's like Rocky V, except that it's done way better here.
The film greatly delivers on its boxing scenes. The most memorable is during the middle where the whole fight was done in real time and all in one take, which is breathtaking. Of course, like the previous films, it's not always about the boxing, but the larger-than-life character interactions that felt so real and genuine.
Creed is a fantastic and well-directed comeback to Rocky franchise, recapturing the spirit of the original, but still standing on its own two feet. It's one that definitely went the distance and managed to make it up the Rocky steps.
6. Shaun the Sheep Movie
From what I do know, the original show always took place on the farm and centered around the titular character's desire to add some excitement. The movie carries it over while also stepping outside of its comfort zone by taking the main characters out in the big city to search for their lost farmer.
What makes Shaun the Sheep Movie such a unique animated film is the lack of dialogue. Because of this, the film relies on visual storytelling from the actions, gags, and facial expressions. The audience can easily tell what is going on, which is what the film excels at.
The slapstick comedy really delivers and had me stitches the whole time. In addition, I even grew attached to the main characters, even though I didn't know half the cast members' names. This is because behind all the humor, it manages to be surprisingly touching. Throughout the film, I wanted Shaun, Bitzer, and the gang to rescue their farmer and come back home.
I strongly commend Aardman Animation for giving us yet another great animated feature that the whole family can enjoy. It's simple, adorable, funny, heartwarming, and entertaining enough to be enjoyed for years to come.
5. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation
The IMF (Impossible Mission Force) has been shut down and Ethan Hunt is on the run, investigating on this criminal organization called The Syndicate, which no one believes that it exists. The ideal premise alone makes it pretty tense and more engaging to watch than the previous films.
I love the teamwork that is present. Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, and Jeremy Renner all return and work off each other very nicely. I also dig Rebecca Ferguson as the newcomer Ilsa because of how incredible she was in every scene she is in. She just seems like someone whose loyalty is uncertain.
Rogue Nation gives us a true espionage experience with the main characters doing the usual spy stuff while also giving us great action sequences. The scene where Ethan was hanging off a plane (which was done for real) could have been the film's only highlight. However, the film delivers on even more memorable scenes that makes the film re-watchable like the opera scene and the underwater sequence.
It takes all the best elements from the previous four films, with suspenseful scenes, larger-than-life stuntwork, memorable action sequences, and great chemistry between the cast of characters. This combination is what makes it quite possibly the best installment in the series.
4. The Martian
The thing about The Martian is that it's one of the most optimistic movies ever. Matt Damon's character could have spent the entire movie sulking or being depressed; instead he remains thoroughly optimistic and hilarious. Yes, this movie is also pretty darn funny. This is easily one Matt Damon's best performances to date.
The rest of the cast such as Jessica Chastain, Michael Peña, Sean Bean, and many more are delight to watch, each having a role to play in bringing Watney home.
Despite its long length, not once was there a dull moment. It is quite a refreshing change to see director Ridley Scott make his best film in years, sharing the same greatness that Alien and Blade Runner have, The Martian is a funny, heartwarming, and intense survival flick that really surprised me and landed on the number 4 spot on this list.
3. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
It's great to see some of the old characters like Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Leia. The new cast of characters like Finn, Rey, and BB-8 are also great and work off another flawlessly. A lot of the humor was upped and they all hit the right notes, making it the funniest installment in the series overall.
The more I think about it, the more great I think Kylo Ren is as a villain. He is evil, of course, but also conflicted and lacking in some experience that makes him a well-rounded villain. I look forward to how he will be explored in future installments.
The action scenes are fantastic, filled to the brim with the series' trademark lightsaber duels, aerial battles, and shoot-outs. The visual effects are also stunning. There is very little computer-generated imagery and more focus and effort on practical effects like models and puppets that just look organic and real. It's a reminder that CGI is not the only option in making special effects.
I know I've criticized this movie for playing it safe and how it relies on paying homage to A New Hope, but I'm okay with it. Creed is a modern day rehash of the original Rocky (mind you, a good rehash), and that gets a free pass? Overall, The Force Awakens is a great mixture of old and new, and it serves as a nice "passing the torch" movie in a story and meta sense.
2. Inside Out
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The idea of little people inside people's heads may have been done before, but Pixar managed to input a lot of thought and creativity that made it stand out on its own.
I was glad to see Pixar tackle themes like homesickness and depression. This seriously hit home with me because I was in the same position that the character of Riley was, and I was quite blown away that the film literally explores her psyche.
The main characters are a lot of fun. Being emotions, they could have been easily been one-dimensional because of what they obviously represent. It's quite the opposite, since they all pack so much personality that makes them memorable. The character who steals the show for me is Anger because of Lewis Black being perfectly cast. He cracks me up every time he is on screen.
What it succeeds most, however, is its ability to actually be emotional. Besides its hilarious comedy (again, Lewis Black as Anger), it tackles the drama pretty well. Not to mention that I was actually starting to tear up during the film's climax. Not a lot of movies are able to do that. Inside Out has enough for children and adults that pushes all the right buttons and makes it one of Pixar's best movies.
1. Mad Max: Fury Road
When you really think about it, the movie is very short on plot and minimal with dialogue since Fury Road is one entire chase sequence. Like Shaun the Sheep Movie, however, it focuses more on telling the story through its visuals. It even tackles complex themes like redemption, hope, dictatorship, and ecological collapse, so there is a lot going on with such a simple plot.
The film has a great cast. Tom Hardy is great as Max, as he comes off as an anti-hero who doesn't care about anyone, but manages to do what he thinks is right. Charlize Theron steals the show as Furiosa. She proves to be one of the best action characters of all time, who kicks a lot of butt, but has a lot of subtlety in terms of emotional performance. You can tell how she feels just by looking at her facial expressions, which just adds to the film's visual nature.
Fury Road is one huge adrenaline rush from cars crashing into each other to a guy playing an electric flamethrower guitar. I'm not kidding about that last part, just look at this bizarre creation:
With its fast-paced parts, however, the movie knows when to slow down to let the audience breathe. There is not a single dull moment that is worth skipping; it is that engaging to watch.
Everything I said about the action scenes and visual effects in Star Wars: The Force Awakens apply here. The car crashes and the over-the-top stuntwork were all captured on-camera perfectly. The main characters are even in constant peril which makes the audience care and want to see them reach their destination. As for the visual effetcs, unlike The Force Awakens, it manages to make a nice marriage between CGI and practical effects, from Furiosa's robot arm to expanded shots of the wasteland.
Overall, this was an excellent comeback and reinvention for the series. The story is minimal but deep, the cast of characters are memorable, the action scenes are phenomenal, the visual effects are spectacular, the score by Junkie XL is one of the best that I have ever heard, and the film is just exciting. I applaud director George Miller for creating not just one of the greatest action films of the decade, but one of the best movies ever made. It is the one that will reach the gates of Valhalla, shiny and chrome. I guess I'll add that to my list of favorites of each year in the 2010's:
That concludes my Top 10 Films of 2015. Keep in mind that I have not seen every movie that was released this year. I haven't seen The Revenant or The Hateful Eight or Anomalisa because they don't have wide releases until January. Maybe I'll make a leftover post later on if I liked them enough that I should have added them to this list.
I actually look forward to next year's set of films. 2016 has a lot of titles to look forward to in terms of blockbusters and smaller films. Most importantly, there is some promise with the upcoming film adaptations of video games like Ratchet & Clank, Warcraft, and Assassin's Creed. After so many terrible video game movies, I hope they break this boundary. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
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