Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)

Hello All,

Unfortunately I’m once again quite tired after a long day but I will try my best to give you the best review I can. Having missed the other January animated movie, I figured I’d catch up with this week’s newest release. I was going to do this yesterday, but I basically got snowed out. So how does the end of the Kung Fu Panda trilogy hold up? Let’s find out shall we?

Plot Summary - When an ancient warrior and former friend of Oogway attacks him in the spirit realm and steals his chi, he returns to the normal world bent on destroying his legacy, leaving only Po who's now been tasked with becoming a teacher, while also dealing with the return of his birth father.

Pros - The animation in the film is the best it’s ever been. It has these really cool and colorful scenes that the 3D really brings to life. It also adds some really cool story elements to the mythos of the world, as it manages to tie the three films together almost seamlessly. The cast is really solid too, although some people get less screen time than others, we do see a few scenes more withe five and some of the lesser seen ones getting some moments as well. Even Po seeing the panda village is cool because it does give you a really nice sense of what the panda culture is like. It paces really well too, at 95 minutes it doesn’t overstay it’s welcome and it still manages to deliver some really cool scenes in that time.

Cons - If I have any complaints, it’s maybe that it has a few cliched moments, but honestly even seeing them coming I still enjoyed everything leading up to it.

Final Score - 10/10

Honestly, and maybe it was the day I had, but I did really enjoy this movie. To me, it has just right balance to make this a perfectly entertaining film for both kids and adults and it’s definitely the best January film out now.

I’ll probably see Fifty Shades of Black, but I have to be in the right mindset of it considering I skipped and will forever skip Fifty Shades of Grey, and from what I hear it’s a shot for shot spoof so…...yay……

Until then, I’ll see you folks at the movies.

Movie Review: The Finest Hours (2016)

Hello All,

It’s very late right now as I’m writing, so I’m going to skip the intro and get right into it. I’m reviewing the finest hours, Is it any good? Let’s find out.

Plot Summary - The film follows the real life 1952 rescue of the crewmen stranded on the SS Pendleton by a coast guard crew of only four men during one of the worst storms of the year.

Pros - The cast was really solid, the visuals were mind blowing, the story in tense and the pacing is good for the most part.

Cons - The main characters girlfriends story (say that six times fast) is basically padding, a couple of interesting side characters get basically dropped for most of the movie, and it has a few cliche moments. But it’s biggest sin by far is that it’s needlessly in 3D. I normally don’t make a point of the 3D, but in this case I know some people will probably not see it because of that and to me that’s a mark against it.

Final Score - 7/10

I can’t deny that by the end of it I was smiling, but with a bit of trimming and dropping the 3D entirely this would’ve been an 8 or a 9.

Sorry this was short, but I’m exhausted. It’ll probably be Kung Fu Panda 3 next, then fifty shades of black when I’m at my most self hating.

Until then, I’ll see you folks at the movies.    

(Spoiler Free) Movie Review: Lazer Team (2016)

Hello All,

So this review is a bit unusual for me. See, a while back I helped fund Rooster Teeth’s indiegogo campaign for them to make their first movie, the above mentioned Lazer Team. Since I am a backer I got access to an early digital screening of the film before its official premiere tomorrow. I’ve basically told I cannot spoil the movie in any way shape or form so I will try my best not to do that, so for the sake of this review, I will do a basic summary, basic pros and cons, and the final score. So, did I pick the right movie to back? Let’s find out together shall we?

Plot Summary - When the earth intercepts a signal warning of both great danger, and a gift it shall receive, they begin to train a champion of earth to take on the threat. However, when the gift of a suit of battle armor arrives, four idiots stumble across, and when they learn that they cannot simply walk away, they must come together as a team for the sake of mankind.

Pros - The cast is on point in terms of both their dramatic ability and comedic timing, as it also does help a bit being a fan of rooster teeth myself. The banter between the main four flows well, and the supporting cast does well to round out the group. Alan Ritchson as Adam the intended champion gets special mention here. As a comedy about 95% of the jokes work, the story moves along well for the most part, and it actually throws in a few surprises along the way. I will say for an entirely crowd based movie the effects and the look of the whole film are actually quite good. For non Rooster Teeth fans I can imagine that they would enjoy it, even if they might miss some of the little easter eggs hidden throughout the film.

Cons - Like I said a few of the jokes don’t work, rather they be a bit obvious or just not funny. It does take a little long in the beginning and then a few scenes after kind of feel rushed. There’s also one or two slightly obvious green screen moments.

Final Score - 9/10

Despite some minor hiccups that could be just first time movie making jitters, overall I say Lazer Team is actually pretty solid, and I’m glad I backed it. If you can see it near you I say do it, or wait until they start selling it on dvd or make it available to watch online.

I’ll probably do the finest hours on Thursday, then Kung Fu Panda 3 after that. Figure out which one I’m excited for more.

Until then, I’ll see you folks at the movies.

Movie Review: 13 Hours Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016)

Hello All,

    You know, in a post 5th wave world, I can’t help but realize how much more I’ve been enjoying everything else lately simply because It’s not the 5th fucking wave. That early contender for the worst movie of the year drains me every time I even mention it, yet I can honestly thank it for basically just allowing me to just try and find the value in everything else I see after the fact for the next little while. That being said, let’s review a Michael Bay movie shall we?

Plot Summary - Based on the real life attacks in Benghazi, the story follows six CIA contractors as they fend off attacks on both the american embassy and their CIA base over a one night span.

Pros - The best thing about this movie by far is the action. It’s actually some of Bay’s best work as he seems more focused with the way everything plays out. As a war movie it’s pretty easy to follow everything going on and you do have some great action and chase scenes. Everything else for the most part is basically on point here, as the acting is good, the story is good, the pacing is good, and even the character development.

Cons - The movie suffers from a lot of padding. There are so many scenes that could’ve been easily cut and that would have made this more focused than it already is. There’s also too many characters, as while it does mostly focus on the main six guys, there are way too many side characters to the point where you  just lose track of almost everybody and where they are.

Final Score - 8/10

With a bit of editing and some tighter focus it could’ve been a 9 or even a 10 at a stretch. It’s probably the best Michael Bay film I’ve seen in awhile, and I really hope he improves on what made this film good and brings it to the next Transformers movie.

Kung Fu Panda 3 opens next week, there might be a review on Tuesday or Wednesday in the meantime.

Until then, I’ll see you folks at the movies.

Movie Review: The Boy (2016)

Hello all,

With quite a few options ahead of me this week in terms of movies to watch, I found myself at a bit of a loss at what to watch first. We got the 5th wave done and over with (thank christ), so the question is what was next? Well, since I worked today, I literally saw the first new movie that was playing right after, and that turned out to be The Boy. So with one January horror film under my belt, how was the second going to hold up? Let’s find out together shall we?

Plot Summary - Greta (Lauren Cohan) is an american woman who has accepted a job in England as a nanny to the Heelshire family and their son Brahms. When she arrives however, she finds Brahms is a porcelain doll that the family believes is alive. Skeptical at first, when she’s left alone to care for him, she starts to believe that the doll may truly be alive.

Pros - At 1h 38m there is a very clear sense of timing and pacing that never really feels rushed, as you can clearly tell when the three acts begin and end. The second act is where the film really starts to pick up, as the characters back story and the situation unfolding in front of her actually does lead her to believe that the doll is alive, and it’s really bizarre to watch in kind of a fascinating way. Third act does get off to a bit of a shaky start, and without spoiling it, basically a new character is introduced and given kind of a brief amount of development time right before kicking into the end of the film. I will say though, the third act twist I admittedly didn’t see coming, but it was actually pretty awesome and basically turned the whole movie around for me. They also sequel bait in a way which I actually thought was kind of neatly ominous and actually left me wanting to see what they want to do with a potential sequel.

Cons - That being said, the twist does actually bring up a huge amount of questions, some good, some bad, and also one kind of big hanging problem over the whole story. Again without spoiling it, it sort of makes you look back over the film, and while there are some really kind of cool and creepy questions left to ask, there’s again the few questions that make you question the logic the logic of the film and admittedly kind of bring down the whole thing quite a bit. It also doesn’t help that it’s a PG rated horror film. The first third will leave you bored as there only really one kind of creepy unexpected moment, at least for me anyways. I really wish they would’ve tried for a 14A rating (Pg - 13 for the states), as it would’ve allowed them more of an opportunity to maybe play with that twist ending a little more.

Final Score - 6/10

But, In a first for this blog, I will be issuing it the brand new…..

Lower Score Seal of Approval!

Look, it’s a flawed film yes, but this is one of those rare cases in where to me the flaws, while still there, sort of end up contributing in a way to the overall feel of the film. This will probably end up being this year’s Hitman: Agent 47 for me, and I’m actually okay with that. I can honestly recommend this film based solely on how this film kind of weirdly works. I will say, that the seal of approval does NOT grant it immunity from the year end disappointing list. If I see more disappointing films than this, it might be not be on there, but we’ll find out at the end of the year.

Tomorrow will most likely be Thirteen Hours. The movie not how long the day is going to be, hopefully.

Until then, I’ll see you folks at the movies.

Movie Review: The Fifth Wave (2016)

Hello all,

You know I skipped last week because all we got at my theatre was one movie that got universally panned, one I had already seen, and one I don’t even remember what it is thinking about it right now. So when I saw that we were getting four new movies tomorrow with two advanced screenings tonight my hope brightened a little bit. Then I saw one of them………..holy shit. I sit here now, a defeated man, having to tell you why this movie is just fucking awful. So yeah, let’s get this over with shall we?

Plot Summary - When aliens invade the earth and decimate it in a series of waved attacks, a young girl named Cassie (Chloe Grace - Moretz) tries to reunite with her brother with the help of a mysterious young man.

Pros - I honestly thought the first scene in the movie was funny, but that might have only been because of some of the trailers that played before the movie made me want to gouge my eyes out. Oh and a douchebag got hit in the throat.

Cons - Not too sound repetitive but basically everything else about this fucking movie. It’s biggest glaring problem is just how painfully fucking generic it is. I predicted the two biggest plot points in the movie well before they happened, and I knew four lines almost verbatim before they were even said in the film, once getting the exact phrasing right. I’d never actually done that before until today.

    The first third, is just exposition, the main character of the subplot gets all of two minutes of screen time and then all of a sudden he’s back and we care about because of yet even more exposition to explain where he was for the last forty five fucking minutes. Thanks for making me care about him by literally telling me I should care about him stupid fucking movie.

    There’s not a single fucking original thought in this film’s whole fucking body. It could’ve been called young adult novel the movie. You could’ve named the main character Bella Everdeen and I wouldn’t have batted an eye. Hell, this could’ve been mannequins with voiceovers and I wouldn’t have fucking said a goddamn thing about it.

    Bottom line, it’s cliche, boring, and so painfully generic I think I’d rather get stabbed than watch it again because I would’ve enjoyed it more.

Final Score - 1/10

The douchebag getting hit in the throat was funny. I legitimately chuckled, it was as if I got to see a cliche get punched and it was awesome.

I might go bleach my brain of this now. I don’t know what will be next, maybe thirteen hours.

Until then, stay far away from this movie.

Happy New Year! Double Movie Review: The Revenant (2016) and The Forest (2016)

Hello all,

Well, my break is basically now over. I now start 2016 with the traditional slog of what will most likely be completely crappy January releases that normally wouldn’t see release any other time of the year. That being said the first week or two can have some hold overs from last year that did not get a proper release as well. Long story short it’s basically a crap shoot, I’ve blabbed on long enough let’s get to the reviews shall we?

The Revenant Review

Plot Summary - In 1823, a group of pelters under military command are preparing animal pelts for transport when they come under attack by the local native american tribe. After losing most of their men, the remainder flee with Hugh Glass (Leonardo Dicaprio) as their wilderness guide. With the group are his son, and a man named Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) a scalping survivor who openly resents Glass and his half native son. After Glass is grievously injured, Fitzgerald tired to finish him off, but kills his son and leaves him for dead. Now, badly wounded and alone in the wild, Glass forces himself forward to seek revenge.

Pros - My main compliment towards the film is just how stunningly gorgeous every single shot of it is. There’s not a single moment of this film that doesn’t look amazing. The acting is phenomenal, Tom Hardy is barely recognizable, even the supporting cast brings in their A game as well. The action scenes as tense and fast paced without being too overwhelming, the manage to balance out the bleak moments for the most part, not really with humour but with mostly beautiful imagery.

Cons - Now this might seem weird, but hear me out. Revenant is 2h 37m long, eleven minutes longer than Hateful Eight. Yet were Hateful Eight didn’t feel like it was that long, The Revenant did in spades. It was during this when I realized that there are a lot of minor hiccups throughout the movie. There’s quite a few arthouse style scenes that feel like padding, you start to lose any sense of how much time has passed for these characters, there’s quite a few quiet moments that stay quiet just too long. I should also mention that I ended up leaving the movie with a massive headache, but I still can’t quite figure out why.

Final Score - 9/10

This is a beautiful film, but I cannot deny it’s flawed just enough to miss the full score. It’s definitely a must see though.

The Forest Review

Plot Summary - Sara Price (Natalie Dormer) is an average woman who is revealed to have received a series of phone calls from Japan regarding the disappearance of her twin sister Jess (Also Natalie Dormer). When she heads over to the forest Jess was last seen in, she hires a local guide Aiden (Taylor Kinney) to lead her into the haunted forest.

Pros - The film is based around the Aokigahara Forest at the base of Mount. Fuji in Japan, a well known spot for people to go and commit suicide, which in itself just breeds potential for a good horror movie. To the film’s credit there are a few kind of creepy scenes in the film.

Cons - Oh, just about everything else. My biggest nitpick is that Aiden is supposed to be Australian and yet he doesn’t have a fucking Australian accent. Natalie Dormer is on autopilot in both sister roles, and everyone else looks bored. The scares are lackluster, while being scattered too thin and lacking any real build up. Overall the whole film feels like a bad American remake of a Japanese horror film that never existed. It does try really hard to be like a Japanese horror film, except it doesn’t know how to do that and gets reduced to the usual jump scare garbage we’ve sadly come to expect. Oh, and every character in this movie is dumber than a bag of hammer’s.

Final Score - (1/10)

Overall, it’ just boring and a waste of time. There’s a film that was made last year called Sea of Trees that I don’t know if it’s been released or not, but Matthew McConaughey is in it and from what little I’ve seen it looks a million times better. Look for that when it comes out.

The first of many film reviews for this year, I’m actually looking forward to a lot of these, and I hope you all join me on another year of reviewing. Even though I don’t know what film I’m doing next yet.

Until then, I’ll see you folks at the movies.

Movie Review Special: The Best Films of 2015

Hello All,

At last, here we are. The last list of 2015. The one we’ve all been waiting for, the best films of the year. Having reviewed 47 films that scored between 8 and 10, this was no easy task, but it's finally here.  Before we get started, I want to point out that there will be a slight difference between the formatting of this list and the previous lists, as it was suggested to me that there should be a one or two line plot summary attached to each entry on the list.

    So, without further delay, may I present to you….

The Top Ten Best Films of 2015!

10. Dope / Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl

Dope - A geek living in the ghetto find himself thrust into the drug dealing world after a bag mix up at a party.

Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl - A self isolating high schooler finds himself in the center of everyone’s view after being forced to befriend a classmate who has just been diagnosed with cancer.

Okay, I know, having two films tie is a bit of cheat, but it’s my list and I’ll do what I want. Besides, it was really hard for me to pick between both of these films because they are basically two sides of the same coin. They are both really good coming of age stories that just tackle the idea differently but really well.

Dope is more of a comedic adventure, that basically plays up the absurdity of the whole situation and takes it to some pretty hilarious extremes. It also Manages to find a way to balance a bit of everything into it, humor, drama, romance, with some pretty spot on social commentary laid on top of the whole thing.

Dying Girl (just for the sake of not having to type out the whole title every time) is a drama with comedic undertones, but it’s a lot more about coming out of your shell and embracing the rest of the world instead of walling yourself off from it. It also plays out a lot more realistically so it’s a lot more relatable for people who’ve been in similar situations.

I decided to put them both together at the bottom of the list because they both deserve more attention than they got, but I also wanted to leave more room for the other entries on this list.

Final Scores - (10/10) & (10/10)

9. The Peanuts Movie

Plot Summary - Based on the 50’s comic strip, The Peanuts Movie sees Charlie Brown trying, over the course of the school year, to win the affections of the new girl who moves to town.

    So I may have mentioned it in the original review, but I actually grew up reading my dad's original books of the peanuts comic strips. I’ve watched the specials, and tv show, and I’d read the newspaper comics printings every week. I was really worried when I heard they were making a new movie, but it actually manages to capture both the (impressively improved) animation style and the heart of the originals quite well. It’s also a film that shows kids something that I think are lot of people are trying to avoid them seeing nowadays, that failure is sometimes okay as long as you’re still a good person through it.

    The main plot point of Charlie Brown has always been his failure at things. He can’t kick the football, he can’t fly kites, he can’t play baseball, and so on. Sure he gets frustrated, sure he gets mad, hell a running joke is that he even yells out loud from time to time. But throughout it all, he simply overcomes it, and tries again. Sure he gets teased for it, but in the end his friends always have him around, they always support them, and they always stay his friends. In an overly protective world, I think it’s films like this that we need to remind kids that it’s okay not to succeed at everything. Now if only my parents will stop asking me why I’m still single.

    Final Score - (10/10)

8. The Hateful Eight

Plot Summary - A bounty hunter handcuffed to his high value bounty finds himself stuck in a cabin with six strangers, one of whom is not who they say they are.

    Okay, I’m not doing this to try and make a joke or anything, I’m simply keeping this lower on the list because there are a lot of people who simply do not like Tarantino’s movies. The man happens to be my favorite director so that also keeps it lower because I want to try and make a fair list, but I do truly do think it deserves to be on this list, because who else but Tarantino would make a Western-Mystery? Everything about this film is Tarantino at his best, from the fantastic musical score, to the great cinematography, the well told and interesting story, the fantastic cast that were all on point, I simply just loved everything about this movie. The almost three hour running time felt like a breeze as well, and very few films that are that long don’t flow that well. I simply can’t help it, I just really like this movie.

    Final Score - (10/10)

7. Mission Impossible Rogue Nation

Plot Summary - When the spy agency IMF is shut down for dangerous actions, Agent Ethan Hunt finds himself all alone against a group of rogue spies only known as The Syndicate.

    So anyone who read my complete series on the Mission Impossible films know, I only watched the previous entries just this past year. For the most part I think it’s an overall good series, although every film seemed to be lacking one or two key elements. That was until I saw Rogue Nation, which I still think is the best film in the whole series. It manages to take all the good aspects of each film and finally bring together in the perfect balance. The premise was really intriguing too, Ethan Hunt on the run from basically everyone. I mean any film that can start off with Tom Cruise strapped to the side of a plane and improve upon it from there throughout, how can you possibly say no to that?

    Final Score - (10/10)

6. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (No Spoilers)

Plot Summary - Actually, I shouldn’t post that here in case people haven’t seen it yet, here’s the original review that has it way down at the bottom just in case http://ryanmovieblogokay.blogspot.ca/2015/12/spoiler-free-first-movie-review-star.html

    I won’t go into the plot at all for those of you who still haven’t seen it. I think like most people, I can easily say Star Wars is my favorite science fiction franchise. Although I am still sad that the first one I saw in theatres was Phantom Menace, believe me when I say that this film made up for that in spades. Although it borrows heavily from the previous films, it does so in a way where it still makes it’s own unique mark into the series. I’m really excited to see where they go here, and I’m curious to see what they do with the new stand alone films they do as well.

    Final Score - (10/10)

5. It Follows

Plot Summary - After a one night stand, a girl is given a curse where a creature only the cursed can see, continues to follow her at a walking pace, unless she can pass on the curse or kill the creature.

    So for years I’ve been suffering from modern horror movie fatigue. It’s no secret that I think most mainstream horror movies suck as they try more and more to appeal to the PG - 13 crowd who jump at their own shadows and call it genius. Nah, It Follows saw that and basically decided instead to literally force you to watch the horror playing out in front of you. It’s such a cool idea wrapped around a real catch 22 situation that basically just makes it so much more grim to watch, but in a really good way. Does it have it’s problems? Maybe, but I was too fucking scared to care. It got me invested into horror movies again, as I find myself feeling the need to go looking for off the beaten path horror films. This movie basically revitalized an interest in a genre I had completely written off, so yeah it’s getting a spot on this list, and yes I did enjoy it more than Star Wars. Come at me bro.

    Final Score - (10/10)

4. Inside Out

Plot Summary - Inside Out finds us following the embodiments of the emotions is a young girl’s head as she struggles through moving to a new city.

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I really think this year was a great year for kids films, and this one was the best of them all. It managed to find the perfect kid movie balance of bright and colorful, interesting and yet being easy enough to follow, and it did something kids films have been afraid to do: Actually make your kids feel sad. There is a surprising amount of it in this movie, and while the movie isn't afraid to show it, it still manages to tell you that in the end things will truly indeed be okay.  It actually struck a really deep personal chord with me, as someone who is only barely through a quarter of his life has lived in three different cities and seven different homes, and I’m not to admit I cried a couple of times, but I didn’t feel ashamed, because like I said, the film basically told me that it was okay to be sad. I actually ended up leaving the theatre feeling really happy. I will say that it just misses the top three, as while both kids and adults can enjoy it and get some meaning out of it, it’s definitely more a film that kids should see.

    Final Score - (10/10)

3. Mad Max: Fury Road

Plot Summary - In a post apocalyptic future, main character Max finds himself on the run from a warlord and his army, while helping escort a band of imprisoned women to safety.

    So, a little behind the scenes info for you, figuring out the top three for this list actually kept me until four in the morning try to decide the order that I wanted to put these in. I consider all three of these films to basically be damn near flawless, and believe me when I say that I can easily recommend any of the top three to anyone as an example of how good this year was. So with that said, let’s resume our regularly schedules countdown.

    Fury Road gets the number three spot because it was simply just the most epic fun I had at the movies. This was basically the film equivalent of being strapped into a roller coaster ride that didn’t show you any goddamn mercy.  It was the film that showed me that 3D can be awesome (provided it’s in the right theatre), this was the film to me was the epic action extraordinaire that I wanted, because it had a really cool cast of characters, and a really simple yet well pulled off premise that kept you invested in between the action,and yet managed to leave just the right amount of stuff unknown to keep you interested in seeing the next film, which I will do with open arms.

Final Score - (10/10)

2. The Martian

Plot Summary - After a storm forces his crew to flee the planet Mars while he’s presumed dead, Mark Watney finds himself alone, and must figure out a way to survive and get home.

    If the big short explained finances to me, then The Martian sat me down, and basically gave me the most entertaining science class lecture I’d ever had. Matt Damon deserves at least a nomination for this role, as he basically carries most of this movie on his shoulders. It also helps that they decided to take the man vs nature concept and simply said fuck it let’s put him on Mars, and made it the most thrilling, humorous, dramatic, intense, and overall heart warming film ever. It shows everything that’s great about the human race, and how in the end when we really need to we can all come together to solve a problem, and it’s made so much better by how much help NASA gave this movie and basically managed to completely renew interest in space travel to the point where they gave NASA a massive budget increase in congress. Writing this now makes me realize that I really need to go out and buy the DVD if it’s not out yet. I gotta get on top of that.

    Final Score - (10/10)

So with that being said, what’s the film that kept this off of the top spot? Well, first we have to do…..

Honourable Mentions

1. The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened? (10/10) /Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck (10/10) - Two great documentaries that I highly recommend. I just don’t think they should be on the list because documentaries are basically a different format of film from fictional film. If I had seen ten documentaries, then I would’ve made a whole list just for them.

2. Bridge of Spies (10/10) Consider this the #11 of the list, it just falls short just because it didn’t make as big of an impact on me as the other films on the list. It’s still a really well made an interesting adaptation of a true life story that looks at the cold war from both sides of it, through the perspective of an interesting if somewhat controversial person.

3. The Big Short (9/10) I really did enjoy this film, entirely because a math illiterate idiot like me had complicated financial stuff explained in a way where I didn’t feel stupid or pandered too, and I really wanna just show it some love somewhere on this list entirely because of that.

4. Straight Outta Compton (9/10) I feel I need to have this one on here somewhere, since for a lot of people this is one of the best films of the year, and I really did enjoy this film quite a bit. I think for me it’s just missing that little bit that would’ve put it over the top for me.

5. Victor Frankenstein (8/10) I choose this film as basically a representative of the few films I found myself in the minority on liking. Sure it’s flawed, but honestly if you just sit back and embrace the spectacle of it all it’s actually quite awesome. It’s a shame there are other films out there that don’t have that same effect on me (so you can all shut up about me not liking other dumb films now, I’m sorry but I like this one and not those ones.)

And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, without further ado, may I present……

The Best Film of 2015!

1. Brooklyn

Plot Summary - In the summer of 1952, Ellis Lacey leaves her home of Ireland to start anew in Brooklyn. Just as she’s finding a life in her new home, tragedy calls her back to her old one.

    Yeah, let that sink in for a moment. Look at everything at this list, and then look at this. Me, the guy who is allergic to slow dramas, but a historical period drama at the top of his list for 2015. Above The Martian, Mad Max, Star Wars, The Hateful Eight, so many other films that most people wouldn’t have blamed me if I did, and yet, here we are. Would you like to know why?

    I basically went into the movie with only a bit of knowledge about it, but with absolutely no expectations of what it would be like. When it started, I had no idea, but when it finished, my god had I been through an experience. To me, this is the pinnacle of what fantastic filmmaking is, a good story told well, and this just nails that perfectly. Everything about this film is perfect in my mind, from the relatable characters and situations, the phenomenal writing, the beautiful cinematography, the look of the whole film as it captures the era perfectly, I can go on and on about it. It just basically works perfectly from start to finish and I really, really, really, cannot recommend this movie enough.

With a well deserved and irrefutable score of (10/10), I am pleased to present…..

The Best Film of 2015 Award:

Brooklyn

I can’t simply think of a better film to put in that spot for this year.

With the lists now done, I will be taking a few days off before the first batch of 2016 films are rolled out, but never fear, for I shall return for another year of reviewing films, whether they be good, bad, or disappointing.

So until then, I’ll see you folks at the movies.