34. The Lego Batman Movie
D: Chris McKay
**********
Like the last entry, I watched another movie before this
so that probably made it seem more tedious.
Still, this is a huge disappointment after the surprisingly fun and
clever LEGO Movie. Batman was funny as a supporting
character/boyfriend of the love interest, but that clever joke doesn’t apply here. It’s basically Batman as an insecure
publicity whore, and the movie is filled with self-conscious references to the
franchises. In other words, it’s Darkwing Duck, except Darkwing Duck did it better. I also love how this movie is praised for
spoon-feeding us themes that most competent adaptations of this franchise
explore with more subtlety. It was basically a kid-friendly version of Robot Chicken.
D: Rian Johnson
**********
I don’t want to spoil too much, but this movie seemed
like a mishmash of plot points from Return of the Jedi and Empire Strikes Back
with a pointless prequel-level sideplot.
Luke, Rey, Kylo, and Laura Dern’s character were good, but everything
else was sketchy. This movie makes one appreciate the originality of the prequels more.32. Bright
D: David Ayer
**********
Had some funny lines, but it was a lackluster movie with lazy worldbuilding.
31. Transformers: The Last Knight
D: Michael Bay
**********
The second-best of Bay’s “Transformers” series, for whatever little that’s worth. Far too long and drawn out, but not too
heinous. I liked Tony Hale’s character;
he plays the role of the skeptical naysayer, except unlike the type in most
such movies, he’s actually likable. I
might have found the movie more tolerable had I not watched another movie
preceding it.
31. Ghost in the Shell
D: Rupert Sanders
**********
The original Ghost
in the Shell explored the question of what it means to be human in a world
in which cybernetics are taking over the organic; this movie reinforces the
idea that it would be a bad thing if the government forcibly erased your memory
and put it in a robotic body for use as a special operator. While visually beautiful and well-scored, this lobotomized
version of a classic is best missed. It
seems there’s also some sort of a rule that all movies about transhumanism must
have Scarlett Johansson.
30. It Comes at Night
D: Trey Edward Shultz
**********
One of those genre adaptations that mistakes bland
minimalism for sophistication. It’s got
good cinematography and it’s well-made, but it’s pretty forgettable.
29. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
D: Martin McDonagh
**********
Had it's moments, but it's McDonagh's weakest movie I've seen.
D: Martin McDonagh
**********
Had it's moments, but it's McDonagh's weakest movie I've seen.
28. Spider-Man: Homecoming
D: Jon Watts
**********
I do think it serves a good role in the context of the
MCU: Spider-Man has to learn that the small-scale heroism is as important as
being part of the Avengers. The Avengers
are so busy saving the world that it’s easy to forget the little guy (a lesson
Tony learned in Civil War). However, the
execution could be a lot better aside from the movie’s sporadic funniness, and
it drags on way too long. Peter and his
friend do stupid things, such as deactivating the homing device and safety
protocols of his suit. Michael Keaton is
always good to watch, though. I was
happy I waited til video to watch this especially when I fast forwarded through
the credits to see this.
27. Coco
D: Lee Unkrich
**********
I'd hate to ding this movie but I thought it was a bit disturbing how the family chose to condemn Hector to oblivion even though there was no reason to assume he was responsible for his own mysterious disappearance. Also, the general style was already done in Book of Life.
**********
I'd hate to ding this movie but I thought it was a bit disturbing how the family chose to condemn Hector to oblivion even though there was no reason to assume he was responsible for his own mysterious disappearance. Also, the general style was already done in Book of Life.
26. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
D: Jake Kasdan
**********
A perfunctory movie, but I found Brittany to be a surprisingly likable character.
25. First Kill
D: Steven C. Miller
**********
I watched this movie because I always thought Hayden
Christensen got a bad rap. It’s one of the most okay movies I’ve ever seen.
D: Alexander Payne
**********
While some of the technical aspects of the movie are interesting, it abandons exploring its premise in favor of a generic idealistic narrative.
23. Cars 3
D: Brian Fee
**********
Third time's a charm, I guess. The first good Cars movie.
D: Brian Fee
**********
Third time's a charm, I guess. The first good Cars movie.
22. Get Out
D: Jordan Peele
**********
While creative, one line ruined it for me.
The low point is near the beginning when the villain is showing off his
souvenirs from foreign countries to the protagonist. When you’re rounding your eyes at this
depiction of the “problem” of cultural appropriation, the character literally
utters, “It’s such privilege to enjoy another person’s culture.” I mean that’s actually a line a human being
wrote into a movie. Fortunately,
the
movie doesn’t top itself afterward. It seemed to be a self-conscious
attempt to chase away a misaimed fandom of conservatives who could have
easily interpreted the movie to be about how the Left ideological
enslaves minorities.
21. Only the Brave
D: Joseph Kosinki
**********
Decent overall, but I think there are some potential
flaws. I don’t know if the burning bear
was a real part of the story or forced symbolism. The movie made it look like the Hot Shots
were killed by the incompetence of the planes, and the embellished way they
break the news to the families is psychological torture worthy of a
supervillain. The movie also lacks the
visual panache demonstrated by Kosinski in TRON:
Legacy and Oblivion.
20. My Little Pony: The Movie
D: Jayson Thiessen
**********
For the most part it was fluff. This movie seemed like they didn’t have an
idea for a plot that wasn’t already done better in the series. The one thing that made it worthwhile was the
villainess. Her backstory was
questionable, but I have a weakness for angsty villains. Her song deserves the Oscar, but it will of
course be snubbed, and it’s the best villain song I’ve heard in a while. Its lyrics are even relatable. The song capper sings is okay as well.
19. Detroit
D: Kathryn Bigelow
**********
A solid movie, but it does devolve into typical courtroom
drama.
18. Baby Driver
D: Edgar Wright
**********
This movie wins the My
Cousin Vinny Award for Decent Movies that Everyone Blows Way Out of
Proportion. It’s an okay heist movie
with a flimsy Watsonian justification for playing classic songs all the time,
and the music selection isn’t even that good.
And by Edgar Wright standards, it’s actually pretty disappointing. It does do a lot of things well: Jamie Joxx’s
character was surprisingly serious, and his death was a surprise.
17. Thoroughbreds
D: Cory Finley
**********
Some good dark humor, but not of the characters are particularly likable. It is a bit satisfying to see Mark get his, though.
16. War for the Planet of the Apes
D: Matt Reeves
**********
A solid movie, but it does drag on a bit.
15. Dunkirk
D: Christopher Nolan
**********
I really hoped this would be a revival for Nolan. The artistic depiction to make Tommy an
everyman for the infantry made the plot seem a little forced. Also the movie split the battle between three
POVs rather than allowing the suspense to play out organically. The movie was also hurt by its PG-13 rating. Still, the cinematography, practical effects,
and score are refreshing.
14. The Foreigner
D: Martin Campbell**********
A solid movie from a good action director.
13. The Zookeeper’s Wife
D: Niki Caro
**********
A solid and relatively accurate historical film.
12. Logan
D: James Mangold
**********
Gritty, visceral and well-made interpretation of a
superhero’s end. Although the
protagonists should not have endangered that family. I also love the score and that customChrysler.
11. It
D: Anfy Muschietti
**********
A solid adaption. I still like Tim Curry's performance as Pennywise, but it's really an apples to oranges comparison. I was annoyed at how the kids cursed to the point that it was like South Park without the self-awareness though.
10. John Wick: Chapter 2
D: Chad Stahelski
**********
A visually and musically stylish and fun wish fulfillment action movie
that does a better job living up to its hype than the first movie did.
9. Wonder Woman
D: Patty Jenkins
**********
A refreshing example of a superhero movie that’s fun but
effectively earnest when most of them are now glorified comedies and dark
dramas.
8. The Lost City of Z
D: James Gray
**********
A refreshingly old-school bit of film-making. Comparisons to David Lean movies might have
made it slightly disappointing.
7. Thor: Ragnarok
D: Taika Waititi
**********
The story could have been better or the comic relief more consistent, but I love the boldly colorful, unique style, which was really like watching a Jack Kirby comic. I have a real weakness for the 70's/80's aesthetic, including the music. It's also good to see lasers again in a sci-fi movie. I think I'm getting more interested in MCU movies again now that they're going into the space opera phase. The classic "Immigrant Song" is played out but effectively used, though I think they could have chosen a few power metal songs that are literally about Thor.
6. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2
D: James Gunn
**********
It has some good character drama, good action and eye candy, and a great villain. It uses music far more cleverly than Baby Driver. Ego loves this song because it reflects his slight conflict when taking over the universe, while this song is used as a counter for the good guys’ comradery and determination.
D: Denis Villeneuve
**********
This movie was definitely worth a trip to the theatre. It’s a solid story, and it’s a visual masterpiece if not a narrative one. Great effects, great atmosphere, great score, and for the love of all that is good and holy in cinema give Roger Deakins an Oscar already! My main problem with the movie is that it should have been a spin-off with no continuation of the Deckard and Rachael’s story; that kinda messed up the wonderfully ambiguous ending of the director’scut.
4. Brawl in Cell Block 99
D: S. Craig Zahler
**********
Brutal.
3. Chappaquiddick
D: John Curran
**********
A solid, well-acted account of the Chappaquiddick incident.
2. Atomic Blonde
1. The Death of Stalin
D: Armando Iannucci
**********
Very funny. Inaccuracies aside, the important thing is that communism is bad, sometimes in absurd ways. Jeffery Tambor (sexual escapades aside) and Steve Buscemi are particularly enjoyable.
D: S. Craig Zahler
**********
Brutal.
3. Chappaquiddick
D: John Curran
**********
A solid, well-acted account of the Chappaquiddick incident.
2. Atomic Blonde
D: David Leitch
**********
You’ve heard of enhanced reality; this is enhanced
80’s. Great cast, great visual style and
an excellent selection of classic 80’s music.
Best use of pre-existing music in a 2017 movie, just goes straight for
the sound and atmosphere.
D: Armando Iannucci
**********
Very funny. Inaccuracies aside, the important thing is that communism is bad, sometimes in absurd ways. Jeffery Tambor (sexual escapades aside) and Steve Buscemi are particularly enjoyable.
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