Top 10 of 2017

1. Blade Runner 2049

It is absolutely astonishing that this movie turned out well. I mean, whose idea was it to make a sequel to a 35 year-old weird sci fi movie that totally bombed upon its initial release? Movies with ridiculously belated sequels have a tough enough time, but to come up with something to follow the original Blade Runner seemed impossible and borderline irresponsible. The original had such a unique style and such a satisfyingly vague ending that dredging it back up for a sequel would surely end in disaster. But lo and behold, it was pulled off so well I could have never even dreamed it (even if that dream contained a unicorn). Directed by Denis Villenueve and starring Ryan “on fire” Gosling, Blade Runner 2049 is my easy choice for the movie of 2017. First of all, it is an absolute visual feast. Ridley Scott created a stunning movie world in 1982 and it is beautifully expanded upon in the sequel. There’s a fight scene in front of an Elvis hologram that’s particularly mesmerizing. But visuals are not the only winning element of this film. There’s an emotional story that asks central questions about humanity itself, thus continuing the great work the first movie started. Even at its near 3 hour run time, Blade Runner 2049 flies by and keeps you guessing. I can not recommend this movie enough, especially for fans of science fiction. Once again the Academy forgot to nominate the ACTUAL best movie of the year for its Best Picture statue; but is should be primed for some well-deserved technical awards.

P.S. Harrison Ford has now reprised his three most famous film roles in the last 10 years. Harrison, a word from all of us: please stop while you’re ahead. Nobody needs more belated sequels like Witness 2: Amish Ascending, Air Force Two: He Told You to Get Off His Plane, Seven Days Eight Nights: Does Anyone Remember Anne Heche?, or Fugitives: Attack of the One Armed Men. We’re good Harrison, we're good.

2. Star Wars: The Last Jedi

I think my thoughts from when this movie first came out still sum up how I feel now. And it held up even better the second time. Now, we will all hold our breath as we wonder whether or not J.J. Abrams will go back to playing it safe.

3. Lady Bird

Behind a Blade Runner sequel actually working, how much I liked Lady Bird comes in a close second for the biggest surprise of 2017. It’s a coming of age story about a petulant  high school senior, self-named Lady Bird,  that is hell bent on getting out of her hometown of Sacramento. Every relationship in Lady Bird just feels authentic. This is especially true when it comes to Lady Bird and her mother. Nothing is belabored or over the top, the story just unfolds without bludgeoning you over the head about anything. Plus, it has an absolutely perfect ending, something most coming of age stories struggle with. Of the 9 nominees, Lady Bird is my pick for Best Picture.

4. 3 Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

3 Billboards, despite its backlash, was not only a great film, but a very timely one for 2017. We now live in a world where you are defined only by your extremes. Even if you do something as benign as become a presidential election meme or something that's just a fun fixer upper show in your small town, the backlash will come swiftly and utterly unfairly. So what do you do with a mean spirited mother in grief, a racist cop, and a troubled police chief? That's the question that 3 Billboards wants you to wrestle with. Each character is angry for different reasons, and the movie shows us where that anger takes us. It also asks us to look at people for more than just their faults. Are people defined by their worst qualities? By their worst actions? Can bad people still do good actions, and can they change? Our society would answer those questions by those articles I linked above. But life is not about our worst. "Bad" people aren't just caricatures, and 3 Billboards makes us live with this. Our world is so swift to judge, it's good to have a film that asks us not to do so. And luckily for us, we have a Creator that has that patience with us (2 Peter 3:9).


5. War for the Planet of the Apes

The intelligent ape Caesar, finishes his Moses-esque journey in the final installment of a very underrated trilogy of films. The War from the title doesn't end up being what you expect, and in a very good way. Caesar's arc from lab monkey to grizzled leader is a great ride, and this move is its fitting end. I can't decide if War or Dawn (or whatever they called the second one, I seriously can't keep the names straight between the first two) is my favorite, so I'll just choose to love all three of these movies.



6. Baby Driver

Director Edgar Wright has made his career with Simon Pegg action-comedies (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World's End), and Baby Driver proves that he's got much more left to say. The movie plays like an awesome mix of Guy Ritchie and Martin Scorcese; quick cuts, fierce action, and a killer soundtrack. Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx, and Kevin Spacey all play slightly crazy bank robbers that use young "Baby" (Ansel Elgort) as their getaway driver. The driving scenes are particularly heart-pounding as you might imagine, but it's not just all action. Each character is three-dimensional and fleshed out. The romance between Elgort and his waitress girlfriend gives enough emotional weight to make the action interesting.

7. John Wick: Chapter 2

I saw the first John Wick on a guys trip and it was one of those situations where the movie lined up perfectly with the weekend. It was a complete blast, and had me saying "I'M THINKING I'M BACK" for months on end. Chapter 2 has every single thing that made the first movie great, and more. John Wick succeeds so well because of its world building. It gives you just enough insight into its underground of hit men and assassins that you keep wanting to learn more. But the draw of the film is the over the top Keanu Reeves action, and it is here in spades.

8. Dunkirk

Dunkirk is a technically flawless movie. It is expertly filmed in almost documentary-like fashion. We learn of the heroism of British citizens and soldiers as they evacuate from France in WWII. Dunkirk is also an incredible theater experience, the sound of every bullet and every plane flying overhead rattled my sternum in my seat. It's not necessarily a movie I'll ever watch again, akin to something like Schindler's List, but that doesn't underscore it's effectiveness as a movie experience.

9. The Big Sick

For me, this was a very pleasant surprise. I took a chance on The Big Sick as an in-flight movie a few months ago. I was somewhat expecting a dumb, raunchy comedy in the vein of 40 Year Old Virgin or Neighbors. I couldn't have been more wrong. Instead, I was treated to a delightfully funny drama about a guy (Kumail Nanjiani) who breaks up with a girl right before she goes into a coma. He then forms a relationship with her parents and learns to appreciate her even more, despite her illness. The Big Sick is a top-quality romantic comedy.

10. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Marvel did some work on me in 2017. I wrote back in 2013 that I was pretty much done with superheroes. It felt like they'd all become stale, effects-heavy, action bore-fests. But starting with Guardians Vol. 1, I decided to give Marvel another chance. Guardians Vol. 2, along with Thor: Ragnarok to a slightly lesser extent, reinvigorated my interest in Marvel movies for one reason: these movies do not take themselves seriously in the slightest. Guardians Vol. 2 is hilarious, crazy, and weird, and it doesn't try to be anything its not. It's got a killer soundtrack, pretty visuals, and quick one-liners, and not much else. And that's great! I'm not sure that all Marvel movies can get away with such a free-spirited vibe, but I enjoyed the heck out of the ride in this one.


Honorable Mention:

Molly's Game
Thor: Ragnarok
Logan
I Don't Feel at Home in this World Anymore
American Made
Jim & Andy
I, Tonya
Logan Lucky

Top 10 of 2016

1. La La Land

Previous to seeing La La Land, here's the list of musicals that I'd seen in my entire life: Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Grease (on TV one time when I was like 8), and Mary Poppins (I think). Needless to say, I'm not a musical guy, and it is no small feat that La La Land ascended to my top spot for 2016. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone continue the chemistry they started in Crazy. Stupid. Love and sing their way through a sun-splashed classic Hollywood tale. There's a lot of conventional stuff about love, dreams, and happiness, all executed very well. But it's the music, the strong performances by Stone and Gosling, and the unexpected ending that elevate this film. Gosling is on an insane "Jim Carrey in the 90's" type run right now, totally on fire in everything he's in. I listened to the soundtrack for months after this movie came out, and I don't like musicals! Stone and Gosling don't necessarily have strong voices but it makes sense for the story. I didn't see Moonlight, but I have a suspicion that despite its Academy Award for Best Picture, La La Land will be the movie we're talking about 20 years from now.

2. Hell or High Water

A little bit No Country for Old Men, a little bit Heat, and a little bit Bonnie and Clyde, Hell or High Water hits all the right notes. It has some absolutely incredible bank robbery scenes. Chris Pine and Ben Foster play brothers trying to save their mother's farm, with Pine playing the level headed lead and Foster playing crazy in a way that he does so well (see 3:10 to Yuma and Lone Survivor). It's a Robin Hood type moral tale that has you questioning each character's motives that's also backed by some intense action and beautiful desert vistas. This is Pine's best performance of his career. You'll reluctantly root for his character and question your reasons for doing so.

3. Arrival

Arrival is a true science fiction movie. It has high concepts that make you think more deeply about our own world, with little in the way of action sequences. It reminded me a bit of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode called "Darmok". Two completely foreign peoples struggle to learn to communicate despite having completely different methods of communication. What sets Arrival apart is its emotional stakes. I don't want to give all the twists and turns away, but there's so much to unpack about understanding others, the sanctity of life, and free will. Amy Adams is excellent as always, and gives a pretty gut-wrenching performance as a linguist attempting to communicate with aliens that have landed on earth. This a perfect example of how art can be God's way of seeing His beauty. There are numerous spiritual themes that director Denis Villenueve may or may not have intended to convey, but no matter the intent, they are there nonetheless.

4. The Nice Guys

Ryan Gosling, previously described as "on fire", only bolsters that description in an awesome buddy cop film. He and Russell Crowe have a lot of fun together here. The story is a tried and true murder mystery, but as with any good buddy cop movie, the real draw is the relationship between the two leads. Crowe and Gosling are funny and charming each time they're on screen, and there's enough mystery to keep the story moving at an effortless pace.

5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Why do they feel to need to add "A Star Wars Story" to all of these movies? Is there anyone on earth that will be confused by Rogue One and Solo being anything but Star Wars movies? It's just an awkward title that I hate. With that out of the way, Rogue One is a great action movie. The ending was bold (not for normal movies, but for Star Wars), and greatly increased how much I left the theater liking this movie. The filmmakers decided to use CGI work to re-create young Carrie Fisher and Peter Cushing, a move I thought strayed too close to the uncanny valley. That was part of my biggest annoyances with Rogue One, the insistence up on the nudge-nudge, wink-wink "remember this is Star Wars" nods. Did we really need cameos by R2-D2, C-3P0, and the guy that gets his arm hacked off by Obi-Wan in Episode 4? Not really. Rogue One was good enough on its own. Here's to hoping this is toned down in Rian Johnson's new Star Wars movies.  Despite all of that, there's still a lot to like. Rogue One does an excellent job at explaining one of the most baffling plot holes in all of Star Wars history: the incredibly stupid "flaw" in the original Death Star. I wish that the movie had taken itself a tiny bit less seriously, but overall, I was a big fan of this first Star Wars spin-off.

6. War Dogs

I'd like to submit War Dogs as the most underrated movie of 2016. Miles Teller and Jonah Hill play morally questionable guys that game the federal government's military procurement system. Part of the reason why I liked this movie so much was that I actually did this job for a summer. Except for the, you know, super shady illegal stuff that they get involved with in the movie. But the insanity they describe of how the US government buys its weapons is actually that insane in real life. War Dogs has two great leads and a fantastic "too crazy to be true" type story that will easily keep you engaged for its run-time.

7. Hunt for The Wilder-People

This is the film that got Taika Waititi a chance to direct mega blockbuster Thor:Ragnarok, and you can see his talent here. Sam Neill plays a crusty old man that is left to care for a troubled New Zealand kid played by the hilarious Julian Dennison. Wilder-People hits all the right father-son notes with plenty of comedy and heart.  

8. Hacksaw Ridge

Mel Gibson makes his triumphant return to our consciousness with an emotional and beautiful(ly violent) war film. Ridge is about WWII pacifist Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield) and how he became the first US veteran to win the Medal of Honor without ever firing a shot. Hacksaw Ridge has shades of We Were Soldiers with a little less melodrama (a little), and the same amount of war violence. But no matter the comparison, it's a great WWII film. 

9. The Founder

The story of McDonald's (semi) founder Ray Kroc is a worthy tale to be told. The Founder tells of how traveling salesman Ray Kroc built the biggest restaurant empire in the world. It straddles the line between a cautionary tale of capitalism and a celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit in a non-preachy way that's interesting for its whole run time. Michael Keaton is brilliant as Kroc, and it's likely the second best performance of his career, with his portrayal of Captain Mauch in The Other Guys a clear first (I'm only slightly kidding).

10. Star Trek Beyond

Now that I've completely given up on on these new Star Trek movies actually being Star Trek movies, I felt free to enjoy Beyond for exactly what is was; an action movie. I understand that it's not profitable to make Star Trek: TNG style science fiction movies, so there's no reason to be upset that this is really a Star Wars movie starring James T. Kirk (even the TNG movies went the action route- a much dumber choice with its cast becoming more and more ancient with each film). Beyond is just another solid entry in this franchise, nothing more, nothing less.

Honorable Mention:

Keanu
X-Men: Apocalypse 
The Lobster

Top 10 of 2015

1. Mad Max: Fury Road

The teaser trailer for this film came out in late 2014, and needless to say, I was pumped. The style and look felt completely fresh. And after seeing the film, I was not disappointed. These days, special effects don’t do anything to “wow” you. That is, until George Miller melts your face off with a guitar-strapped masked man chained to a monster truck and shooting fire out the end. Just read that sentence again. This is exactly what action movies should be. Memorable characters, jaw dropping stunts, and no time wasted. Charlize Theron’s Furiosa was praised upon release, and deservedly so. She’s the real hero of the film, with the titular Max (Tom Hardy) playing second fiddle. This is an incredible achievement in film making, one which was rewarded by 6 Oscar wins. You’ll want to watch this one over and over.

2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

The Star Wars conversation surrounding these new films has been nothing short of hilarious. The routine goes something like this: near universal critical and audience praise upon the film's release, followed by those very same people drastically walking back their initial enthusiasm. The Force Awakens has been endlessly picked apart, and I won't resuscitate any of those arguments here. I have it so high on my 2015 list because JJ Abrams succeeded in bringing back the magic of Star Wars to our lives. I felt it in the theaters in 2015, and I felt it when I re-watched it before The Last Jedi in 2017. This is a movie I will watch over and over. To me, it has a little Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade feel to it. There's nothing new to speak of, but the formula works so well that when it's done correctly, it's joyful. It was a wonderful close to Han Solo's story, and an effective introduction to new characters Finn, Rey, and Kylo Ren. Kylo Ren and Rey, when all is said and done, may be the best two characters in all of Star Wars (gasp!).

3. The Hateful Eight

Quentin Tarantino indulges at every single turn in this 3-hour long western. If you’re not a fan of  “Tarantino dialogue”, you will hate this movie. It’s long, deliberate, and slow, but in the very best kind of way. Each conversation builds the tension between ruthless killers and liars, all culminating in a twist filled ending. I watched this movie and The Revenant back to back, and that one felt at least an hour longer despite a shorter run time. Where The Revenant feels labored, Hateful Eight masterfully builds tension and keeps you engaged.

4. Sicario

This film is a great example of the language of film. It’s mood and storytelling is told through its visuals. This is a violent, complicated film about the US border with Mexico. The scenery is striking, with the vast dark of the Mexican desert eliciting dread at every turn. Emily Blunt is amazing in her role as an FBI agent drawn into the thorny politics of the war on drugs and immigration. She plays her role with power and an undercurrent of vulnerability. She’s effectively the only woman amongst an agency of men, and her strength is different and in ways more effective than theirs. It’s the best performance of her career, not to mention the solid work of Benecio Del Toro and Josh Brolin. Director Denis Villeneuve will show up several times in my top tens- and he’s inching towards Fincher and Nolan’s “automatic watch” category.

5. Creed

One Christmas break (back when I had such a thing) my family decided to watch the first five Rocky movies in a row. As I went through the 6 Rocky films, my thoughts went something like this: 1. This is incredible! I love you Rocky! ADDRIAAAAAN!! 2. OK, this one is pretty much exactly the same story as the first one but still good I guess. 3. Why are Rocky and Apollo Creed running shirtless on the beach together? Why is this in slow motion? Wait now they're jumping and hugging?!?! What is this movie?! 4. Is there any part of this movie that isn't montage? I guess it's fun to watch a movie where we beat the Russians? Was this the first movie to talk about PED's? Did they really have to kill off Apollo Creed to get Rocky mad at this Russian? 5. Why is Rocky's kid such a horrible actor? Is he worse than Tommy Gunn? No, Tommy Gunn is worse. Is this the worst Rocky movie ever or just the worst movie ever?. 6. (Doesn't even see it due to scarring from Rocky 5).

What a roller coaster. Despite all this, I still had high hopes for this movie because of the talented director Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan (I wanted to yell "WHERE'S WALLACE" at the screen but I didn't). Creed ends up being possibly the best film in the entire series. It's got some great acting, most improbably by Sylvester Stallone, reprising the role that made him famous. It's strange to see such a serious and incredible drama that is technically a sequel to one of the least serious and cheesiest "dramas" of all-time (Rocky 5). Creed has the emotional stakes and intensity that come with any boxing film, with the Creed-Rocky history adding layers to the characters that mean something. Whatever you want to call this reviving of the franchise (Reboot? Soft Reboot? Sea-boot?), it has been a success, and should be a blueprint for others that would like to do so.

6. Inside Out

Pixar did it again- it made an emotionally resonant story out of some computer generated characters. I shouldn't be surprised at this point, they've been doing it since the 90's. Inside Out is a comical and wonderful trip into the mind of a child, in such a way that it rings true with everyone. Physical manifestations of our emotions was a brilliant premise that was executed with all the laughs and all the feels.

7. Spectre

I'm a big fan of the James Bond series (see here and here), and I really liked Spectre. Daniel Craig's Bond films have all felt fresh in one way or another. But this one feels like it's "settling in". Any Bond fan knows that basically every movie for the series first 30 years followed the same simple formula. And we loved them for it! Sometimes you just want to settle in and watch the familiar. But after Skyfall set the bar so high, a drop was bound to happen. It's a solid time, and not much more. Vintage Bond.

8. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

At some point, Tom Cruise is going to be too old to play action heroes. But it's not here. This 5th entry in the franchise hits all the right notes to make a solid action movie. Cruise always makes for an excellent time, he's still as bankable as ever.

9. Spotlight

For the second straight year, the Oscar winner for Best Picture comes in at number 9 on my list. I really loved Spotlight. It's a well-acted, well-directed movie of an important event in American history. However, it doesn’t do anything new. And that may be why it’s been somewhat forgettable in my mind. Solid, but not much more.

10. The Martian

Did Matt Damon make a cameo in Interstellar knowing that he would be in this role and it would confuse everyone? Maybe. But The Martian stands on its own right. It feels less serious than Interstellar, but serious enough to make the last 20 minutes very intense.

Honorable Mention:
Jurassic World
The Intern
The Big Short
Daddy's Home
Spy

Top 10 of 2014

Since signing up for MoviePass, my love for going to the movies has been rekindled. It had always been there, but now that I can see as many as I want for $9.99 a month, I've found myself seeing just about everything that catches my interest. It has also revived my interest in doing some more writing on this page. My #nerdrage led me to write about the new Star Wars in December, which made me look through my old posts and realize I hadn't done a top 10 list since 2013. So before I started putting together a list for 2017, I decided to go back and fill in the gaps.

Putting together a top 10 list years later is probably the best way to do so, although the interest will likely have waned (I fully expect no one to read this, and a couple of people to read the 2017 list). Bill Simmons once had a half-baked idea to award the Oscars 5 years later. So this year, we'd be handing out the Oscars for movies from 2013. Although no one would watch the ceremony or care, it would be a much more honest way to determine the best movies of the year. Time allows us to re-watch films, sometimes again and again, and let things sink in. I'll give you a couple of examples. The first time I watched Blade Runner, I was a freshman enrolled in Film Lecture at the University of Arkansas. I was expecting a cool Sci-Fi action film with Harrison Ford. Instead, I was confused and bored by the plodding, strange neo-noir with a weird soundtrack. However, I gave it another shot a few years later and absolutely loved it. I was moved by the Roy Batty character, and appreciated the look of the film even more. Another example is the movie Swingers. I had always heard this was a great low-budget comedy that launched Vince Vaughn's career. I watched this one for the first time as a college junior and was bored to tears. After giving it another chance when I'd had a few years out of college, it completely clicked. Swingers is a movie about love and career in the awkward stage right out of college. Until I had experienced that, I couldn't connect with the film at all. Point being, neither of these movies would have made any top 10 list had I ranked them after one viewing, but they are two of my favorites now.

But I digress. Here's my top 10 of 2014. Had I written this in January 2015, it likely would have looked slightly different. These are the films that have stuck with me over the years, and left the strongest impression.


1. Interstellar

Christopher Nolan is batting a perfect 1.000. I've loved every movie he's ever made (save for his independent debut Following, which I've never seen), and Interstellar is another incredible entry to the Nolan canon. Released in the middle of the Matthew McConaussaince, the film is an incredible science fiction and father-daughter tale. The Hans Zimmer score is burned into my brain as one of the best of all time. The acting is top notch, it's not overly science-y when it's explaining things, and has real emotional stakes. This is how you make a science fiction film.

2. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Having watched the entire Apes trilogy this summer, I can confirm that this is my favorite of the three. Which is saying a lot, because these Apes movies are so much better than I ever thought they could be. In this film, Caesar is no longer an ape in a lab, but a bona fide military leader. Andy Serkis' motion capture work gives nuance and emotion to a CGI animal that I had no idea could be possible. The titles of these movies make no sense (why is there a Rise before a Dawn?), but they’ve managed to be one of the best trilogies this decade.

3. X-Men: Days of Future Past

This iteration (somehow) successfully merged the early 2000’s X-Men movies with the new cast of the semi-reboot First Class. This is my favorite movie of the franchise, with the time travel and the 70’s vibes all meshing so well. I had such a bad taste in my mouth after the horrific X-Men 3 that it was really nice to allow that cast to finish up in an actual good movie. But the scene of the film (and maybe of all 2014) was Quicksilver taking out an entire room of bad guys in slow motion. I could watch that over and over.

4. Gone Girl

I love David Fincher. His style is exceptionally unique and effective at telling a story. Gone Girl is probably a lower tier Fincher movie, which tells you how deep his IMDB page is. It’s a twisting drama that was expertly placed on film from the best-selling novel. Ben Affleck was perfect casting because our feelings about his character are basically the same as how we feel about Ben himself: is he a jerk? Is he a smart dumb guy or a dumb smart guy? Do I trust him? And so on. Just perfect.

5. Edge of Tomorrow

The most underrated movie of 2014 was an awesome mix of Groundhog Day and The Terminator. The premise is Tom Cruise essentially living the same moment over and over in order to beat the bad guys. The execution is what’s important here, as director Doug Liman mixes action and comedy perfectly. And even though Emily Blunt is still too young to play Cruise’s love interest, it’s more believable than about half the movies he’s done this decade.

6. Guardians of the Galaxy

I saw this movie at a group outing at the drive-in, fully expecting to be bored to tears. At the time, I was in the middle of a full on Marvel boycott. I had felt that they had become tiresome, predictable, and boring. So to say that this movie caught me by surprise was an understatement. I could be wrong, but it appears to me that it was around this time that Marvel decided to drop any pretense of taking itself seriously, which means two things. One, almost all of these Marvel movies are going to be fun and entertaining. Two, very few are going to be memorable. This one ended up in the memorable category, due to its killer soundtrack and comedy.

7. The Grand Budapest Hotel

It's a Wes Anderson movie. It's quirky. It's funny. It has memorable characters. What else do you need to know?

8. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

The conclusion to the epic, albeit unnecessary, "Hobbit" "trilogy". I put both of those in quotation marks because it's not really a trilogy of movies about JRR Tolkien's classic novel, but an attempt to make prequels to the Lord of the Rings. Which is fine! It's just not what I was hoping for. The Hobbit is my favorite book of all time, and Lord of the Rings are my favorite films of all time. So my anticipation for these movies was great. But when the story would deviate from Bilbo and our main story on to other things, my interest would dip. I can't help but feel like there's an excellent 3.5 hour Hobbit movie buried within this trilogy of movies (I may or may not own a bootleg called "The Tolkien edit"). Battle of the Five Armies is a fine end, with some memorable Bilbo scenes, and some over the top action. My biggest complaint with these movies has nothing to do with the writing or story, but the decision to make the main two Orcs CGI. They proved in Lord of the Rings that good ol' fashioned makeup can make incredible movie monsters. Going back to watch those movies today, 15 years later (!), they are still just as scary and just as believable. But the CGI orcs in The Hobbit just look awkward and way less scary. I'm not sure if it was cost, or Peter Jackson feeling like his vision couldn't be realized, but I was disappointed in the decision.

9. Birdman: or The Unexpected Virture of Ignorance

The Oscar winner for Best Picture comes in at number 9 on my list. Birdman was a thoughtful, well-acted movie with a very unique score and cinematography. But this is a great example of time giving  better perspective. I loved this one at the time, but have felt little to no desire to re-watch. This movie is excellent, but not the best movie of the year.

10. Nightcrawler

Nightcrawler is one of my all-time favorite movie theater experiences. The film is incredibly dark, and our lead is Jake Gyllenhaal playing an unhinged wannabe news reporter. He lies, cheats, steals, and assaults his way to the "top" of the breaking news report game. His character is so strange, and so weird, I couldn't help but laugh. My friends were laughing too. But that's where it stopped. The entire theater must have thought we were a band of psychopaths, because the humor was lost on everyone else. My wife constantly nudges me when I'm too loud in movies (which is all the time), and if we had been dating at this point she may have walked out. It was magnificent.

Honorable Mention:

Neighbors
The Lego Movie
The Imitation Game
John Wick
Big Hero 6
Dumb and Dumber To
Kingsman: The Secret Service

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Spoilers)

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, despite near universal critical acclaim and insane box office results, has still had its share of detractors. The conversation on social media over the weekend pointed out quite a few issues fans had with the series: Why didn't Laura Dern just tell Poe her plan? What was the point of Finn's story line? Why didn't Luke actually train Rey? How in the world did Leia float through space like Mary Poppins? I could go on. And while several of these complaints are valid, I found TLJ  to be an engrossing Star Wars film that actually had something new to say, a feat that The Force Awakens and Rogue One did not accomplish. There were still the callbacks and nostalgia that comes with the territory of a Star Wars movie in 2017, but I felt that the twists and turns as well as the new additions to the Star Wars mythos elevated my interest level. This time it wasn't like poetry- it did not rhyme (as much anyway).

Some of the new additions to the force mythology included: Leia's ability to return to the ship while being suspended in space, the location of the original Jedi temple, the fact that the Jedi had ancient texts that they self-describe as religious, the ability to project an apparition of yourself, Rey and Kylo's ability to commune using the force, the expansion on the concept of having evil and good at the same time, and more. Here's a list of what The Force Awakens added: umm nothing? Pretty much everything in it regarding the force has been established in previous films. Which was fine for that movie, but if its follow up offered nothing new, the grace we gave the reboot would not have been as kind.

Poe and Finn's story line was kind of stupid, I'll give you that. A lot of their motivations and actions could have been resolved with a quick scene of dialogue between them and Laura Dern. But I applaud director/writer Rian Johnson for where he took these characters as far as their story arcs. Poe was introduced (and to a lesser extent Finn) as the "new Han Solo". Cocky, funny, and quick to make rash decisions. Finn and Poe fail several times in this film, and miserably. It didn't feel good in the moment to learn that Finn and Rose's mission was a failure, or that Poe's decision to attack the ship in the (amazing) opening sequence led to some unnecessary loss of life (quick note on the criticism that you can't drop bombs in space because there's no gravity- there's no fiery explosions in space either because of the lack of oxygen, but Star Wars has had those since the beginning. Star Wars has always been much more fantasy than science fiction). However difficult these moments of failure are, Finn and Poe learn more about their place in the rebellion and why being the "handsome hero" is not always the path that leads to victory. This a different arc than we've really ever had in Star Wars, which is why I think people are initially hesitant to it.

Continued criticism was lobbied at the revealed backstory of two Jedi characters- or in one case, the lack thereof. Rey was revealed to not have any important heritage. Snoke didn't get much of an explanation at all. Director Rian Johnson has explained why he made this choice, and I see his point. Having Snoke and Kylo Ren work together just echoes Return of the Jedi, which is a movie all of us have already seen countless times. Kylo is the much more interesting character and having him kill Snoke but retain his "evil" intentions retains some mystery for his character in Episode IX. We may never know where he came from or who he is, but this trilogy is about Rey and Kylo Ren, not Snoke. In RotJ I didn't necessarily need to know how the emperor rose to power. I just knew he was pure evil and a great villain. The prequels expounded upon this and gave the emperor a backstory but that was pretty extraneous. I didn't walk out wanting to know more about Snoke, but couldn't wait to learn more about Kylo and Rey.

There were some plot holes (see above), cheesy moments (shoe-horning in some class warfare/animal cruelty stuff on the casino world), and awkward dialogue. But my biggest fears were not realized. With Force Awakens being essentially a remake of A New Hope, I was terrified that TLJ would just mirror The Empire Strikes Back. Not the case. Time will tell, but I believe this film will age better than both The Force Awakens and Rogue One because it took some risks. "Epic" and "classic" films achieve that status based upon audience feeling, and reliance upon nostalgia cannot create these feelings- at least the ones that last.

Top 20 Video Games of All Time

I am an unashamed Nintendo fanboy. I grew up on Mario, Kirby, and Smash Brothers, and my current interests still look like much of the same. It's not that I didn't "evolve" with the times, or that I didn't give the new wave of high definition popular games a chance. I played more than my fair share of Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, Halo, and NCAA Football in college. The issue was that despite the technical achievements, none of these games could match the accessibility and simplicity of a quality Nintendo title. "Easy to learn and difficult to master" should describe every single video game made. The hyper-realistic, hyper-violent, bloated games that are so popular on next generation consoles do not appeal to me all that much.


So take this list with a mountain of salt. Only 3 of these games were not published by Nintendo. But I can guarantee you that every single one of them is a blast to play:


1. Metroid Prime (GCN)

Metroid Prime is the ultimate example of how to innovate and also stick to what makes a franchise great. I will never forget entering Phendrana Drifts for the first time. The music, the graphics, it was a transcendent experience. This is one of the few games that I have gone back to and beat on every difficulty and completed it 100%. To make matters better, the Metroid Prime collection allowed you to play the game with the great Wii controls.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)

Superlatives do not do Ocarina of Time justice. Upon release, this was hailed as the greatest game of all time, garnering countless perfect reviews. I dare you to not love this game. Just thinking about playing through and exploring the sprawling Hyrule gives me chills. One thing that Zelda gets right is  the size of the world it inhabits. There are diminishing returns when it comes to an open world game. Ocarina of Time has plenty to explore, but never feels overwhelming. Meanwhile, a game like GTA: IV just seems exhausting. It's way too big and way too complicated. Give me the sheer joy of Kakariko Village and Lon Lon Ranch any day.

3. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64)

Majora's Mask is the Pinkerton of video games. It was a wildly anticipated follow up to a massively successful product (The Blue Album/Ocarina), that was misunderstood upon release. Now, Majora is considered a bonafide classic. I was sucked in by the mood and the overworld almost immediately. I loved how dark and strange it was. But what is odd about Majora is that it's not really the main story that sets it apart, although that is amazing. It's the side quests that center upon various residents of Termina. I love all of them. This is a game that makes collecting fun and worthwhile.






4. R.B.I. Baseball (NES)

Vince Coleman. Dave Righetti. Burt Blylevyn. These are marginal players in the footnotes of baseball history, but absolute titans to anyone that has played RBI. This game is so simple, and yet so challenging when playing against another skilled player. The amount of 1-0 games that I have lost to my dad is utterly infuriating. He will throw a 1 hit shutout with 20 k's, dancing the baseball across the plate. And all it takes is one mistake to him and it's over. These are my absolute best video game memories. Working so hard to beat my dad, and loving every single second of it. RBI 3 comes close, but there's not really any other baseball games that got it as right as this one.






5. Kirby's Adventure (NES)

I love challenge in games, but if you're looking for that, Kirby is not really your game. It's an effortless game that is just plain fun. The mechanics, the controls, the graphics, the world. Just fun. You can probably beat the game in an hour, but who cares? You'll beat it over and over again only to get the UFO power up one more time.






6. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

Take everything I said about Kirby and add in challenge, and that's Super Mario 3. 2D platforming is a bit of a lost art- I'm not sure that even Nintendo is all that great these days. But man, if you were a kid during any point in the 90's SMB3 was one of the most mind blowing experiences in your life.






7. Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (Wii)

Resident Evil 4 on GameCube and PS2 was insanely good. Great action, great atmosphere, and a successful reinvention of what was the a stake franchise. But man oh man did the Wii version completely blow off the roof. The pinpoint control of the Wii remote was perfect for this game. Looking back it's pretty sad how few games utilized its functionality so well. I played through this one over and over and didn't really get tired of it.










8. Donkey Kong Country (SNES)

This was another mind blowing experience for every 90's kid. I had never seen graphics that looked remotely that good. The soundtrack is absolutely stunning as well, but it's the fluid controls and level design that elevates this game from a mere technical achievement.

9. Super Mario World (SNES)


It sounds strange that the addition of a green dinosaur for Mario to ride would make a game that much better. But it does. This game is simply a joy to play. Mario games are just the best.

10. GoldenEye: 007 (N64)


My best Christmas ever was when I received the double pack of The World is Not Enough on VHS, and GoldenEye. GoldenEye was different because of the missions during the single player campaign. It combined traditional first person shooter action with actual spy elements, all made better with the James Bond license. The multiplayer was incredibly fun. Using a grenade launcher became art, bouncing grenades off the walls to kill Oddjob in his hiding spot.

11. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (GCN)


Dunkey's review of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 perfectly encapsulates why this game is great. Simple, quick to learn, difficult to master, pure fun.

12. Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN)


The amount of hours I've sunk into these games is staggering. I'm not a fan of traditional fighting games, but Smash Bros doesn't function like one. This game is why local multiplayer will always beat online multiplayer. There is nothing better than trash talking your friends in person. Or in my case, letting my friends pressure me into choking a victory away. I'll never really buy in to online gaming because it pales in comparison to local multiplayer.

13. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GCN)


The graphics in this game are nothing short of stunning, and I am glad they went with the cel shaded style. I think there's a few unfair judgments against this game. Some say that the sailing was mundane and the islands were too stretched out. I found the sailing to be relaxing, and there was plenty to discover along the way. The other main complaint is the "fetch quest" at the end of the game. I never understood this. Collecting pieces of the triforce came with a different challenge at each location. It was just a part of the game that let you explore the games overworld, something that Zelda is all about.



14. Super Metroid (SNES)


I distinctly remember being in college and playing this for the first time. There would be social obligations that I would actively avoid in order to play this game. Super Metroid is probably the best Alien video game, complete with the eerie mood and female protagonist.



15. Banjo Kazooie (N64)


This game is just straight up platforming goodness. Super Mario 64 never got a sequel on the N64, but Banjo Kazooie is the closest thing there was. The sequel suffered a bit from being expansive. The worlds were too big, and the objectives too remote. But Banjo Kazooie had worlds that were fun to explore, but not too big. Oh, and the music is insanely good too.

16. Animal Crossing (GCN)


The first Animal Crossing game was the first gaming experience that I played mostly for relaxation. Finding fossils, fishing, and decorating a home doesn't sound like fun, but it absolutely is.

17. Perfect Dark (N64)


The GoldenEye sequel we never got, this game is everything GoldenEye was but better. The laptop gun is one of the best video game weapons ever conceived, and was a major part of every multiplayer battle. Plus with bots, my friends and I would frequently battle the four of us vs. four bots, and it was amazing.

18. Super Mario 64 (N64)


This is another Mario game that is just pure fun. Nintendo totally nailed the 3D platformer on their first try, and games still struggle with doing it right to this day.



19. Metroid Fusion (GBA)


Metroid knows how to do great science fiction. Metroid Fusion is an extension of Super Metroid, and is another incredible adventure.



20. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)


The final star in Super Mario Galaxy 2 is one of my greatest video game achievements. It's an incredibly hard level that took me close to 50 tries. But once I finally beat it, I felt a level of elation rarely reached in my video game history.





HONORABLE MENTION


Resident Evil (GCN)
Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Donkey Kong Country 2-3 (SNES)
Techmo Super Bowl (NES)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (Dreamcast)
NBA Jam (Wii)

It's a Wonderful Life, Communism, and Community

It's a Wonderful Life is not only the greatest Christmas movie ever made, but one of the best movies ever made. It's warm, funny, and delightful. My family and I have made it a Christmas tradition to watch it each year, and every time I feel uplifted, and get more than a little misty eyed at many different parts. It's a Wonderful Life is the story of George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), a small town man that continually puts others in front of himself. When he is discouraged to the point of contemplating ending his life, and angel named Clarence visits him and shows him what life would be like without him being born. George realizes his impact he has had, and "no man is a failure who has friends."

I watched this movie for years and years and walked away feeling uplifted by the ending, and without much thought for the rest of the film. But a couple of views ago I started picking up on an interesting dichotomy of economic philosophies. George, president of the Bailey Building & Loan, and Henry Potter, president of the bank and just about everything else, are constantly at odds. George's philosophy is that people should be able to live in a decent home even if they need a few extra days to pay their bills. Potter's philosophy is that people get what they deserve (his other philosophies involve being a cantankerous old man), and that a home is earned and not given.

It's easy to draw a communism vs. capitalism view of these two philosophies. George famously reminds the panicked Bedford Falls town-folk that "the money isn't here, it's in Joe's house... and in the Kennedy house, and Mrs. Macklin's house, and a hundred others. Why, you're lending them the money to build, and then, they're going to pay it back to you as best they can." (Side note. The Simpsons absolutely killed it with their parody of this scene). A community that puts in money so that all may have the same is a socialist dream and a conservative nightmare. However, after my most recent viewing of the film, I don't think that's what's going on here. The ethic of It's a Wonderful Life, isn't communism, it's authentic Christian community.

The early church in the book of Acts were instructed to live together in unity. "And all who believed were together had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need" (Acts 2:45-46). This is the way George lives for his town of Bedford Falls, and the way town lives for each other. Director Frank Capra consistently highlights the true servant nature of the town. Cab driver Ernie and policeman Bert sing to George and his wife Mary for their impromptu honeymoon. George and Mary help to christen a new home for local barkeep Mr. Martini. Sam Wainwright promises to put people back to work by bringing industry back to town. But the climax of the film is when the town raises money to help George after his Uncle Billy misplaces $8,000 (a deed for which George takes the blame). This scene is incredibly heartwarming, but it's easy to forget what takes place just moments before in the movie's timeline. The film opens with George's family and friends praying to God that they help George in his time of need. And after their prayers, God sends and angel to help George, and the impetus to help their friend. And isn't this what the Bible calls believers to do? To pray for one another and give in time of need?

It's always bothered me that in George's desperation prayer he says "dear Father in Heaven... I'm not a praying man, but if you're up there, show me the way." I always hated that he questioned whether or not that God was there. But I don't think this indicates that George doesn't have faith. He's in a time of doubt and needs prayer and encouragement. And not only does God answer his prayer, he answers prayers of so many others that care for him. It's a Wonderful Life is a distinctly Christian film, and I think that it is even more powerful to watch it as such.

PS- the film would be much less Christian with the SNL alternate ending, although it would be much funnier.