Oscar Predictions/Thoughts 2016

   The time is here again to look back on the ultimate critical acclaimed (more or less) movies of the year via the Oscars. I have to say I am incredibly happy with some of the choices on here, one of my more personally favorite choices ever. So for awards I care about, like usual, I will post my predicitons and wants:

Best Picture

• The Big Short
• Bridge of Spies
• Brooklyn
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Martian
• The Revenant
• Room
• Spotlight

Who I want to win: I think of this last, I would be equally happy with The Revenant or Mad Max ….surprised both made it onto a list like this, amazing amazing films in the top of 2015. I would also take that “surprise and liking” factor for The Martian as well.

Who I think will win: I would say at this point its a stacked category, thats a tie between The Big Short/The Revenant/Room/ And Spotlight. I think , Room aside, they all have a chance at it. Maybe the effort of the Revenant and prior awards will take notice though...

Best Director

• Adam McKay – The Big Short
• George Miller – Mad Max: Fury Road
• Alejandro G Inarritu – The Revenant
• Lenny Abrahamson - Room
• Tom McCarthy – Spotlight

Who I want: I would be extremely happy with Inarritu winning again, but of course, I tink George Miller would be even more satisfying at this point in his career, cmon go to Valhalla!

Who I think: Probably a near tie between the statistically favored Inarritu from other awards, however he won one last year which puts him at a slight disadvantage to …. McCarthy for critic acclaimed Spotlight....hmmm! Could see a dark horse win by any others too.

Best Actor

• Bryan Cranston – Trumbo
• Matt Damon – The Martian
• Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant
• Michael Fassbender – Steve Jobs
• Eddie Redmayne – The Danish Girl

Who I want: LEOOOO PLEASEEEEEEE, I THINK THIS IS FINALLY IT! An incredible performance, and hes been nominated so many times and failed I think he just needs to win, and this film was his best chance yet...allll the other awards shows agree for the most part..hoping for a victory cheer Sunday plz..

Who I think: Leo has his highest odds ever, but he is contended by equal shots by Fassbender and Redmayne....well see what happens...

Best Actress

• Cate Blanchett – Carol
• Brie Larson – Room
• Jennifer Lawrence – Joy
• Charlotte Rampling
• Saoirse Ronan – Brooklyn

Who I want: I must admit I really have no comment here as I haven't seen any of the above films...... some good choices it seems though

Who I think: My critic watch tells me it's going to be Cate Blanchett rivaled by Larson, could be wrong though...

Best Supporting Actor

• Christian Bale – The Big Short
• Tom Hardy – The Revenant
• Mark Ruffalo – Spotlight
• Mark Rylance – Bridge of Spies
• Sylvester Stallone – Creed

Who I want: It would be incredible to see Stallone win a Oscar too, so I'll have to lean towards him. But of course Hardy would be very welcome as well as he was nearly as impressive as Leo was in that film.

Who I think: Stallone actually has great odds from past awards, but I think Bale and Ruffalo contend for this as well ….

Best Supporting Actress

• Jennifer Jason Leigh
• Rooney Mara – Carol
• Rachel McAdams – Spotlight
• Alicia Vikander – The Danish Girl
• Kate Winslet – Steve Jobs

Who I want: Considering it was the only film I have seen on this list, I will have to go with Leigh for the Hateful Eight, one of the many highlights there!

Who I think: I think Winslet has this locked down from what I can see and recent shows...

Best Original Screenplay

• Bridge of Spies
• Ex-machina
• Inside Out
• Spotlight
• Straight Outta Compton

Who I want: Machina, Inside Out, or Compton all represent the great and out of left field noms that should be more of in the show...so any of those!

Who I think: Could go anyway... I could see an Inside Out, or I could see a Bridge of Spies as making up for its other awards.

Best Adapted Screenplay

• The Big Short
• Brooklyn
• Carol
• The Martian
• Room

Who I want: Here I'm going to have to really cheer for The Martian because apparently its a great adaptation and it is as a film and hopefully other wins elsewhere leaves here as its chance to shine

Who I think: Got a feeling on Big Short, Carol, and Room tied....

Best Animated Feature Film

• Anomalisa
• Boy & and the World
• Inside Out
• Shaun the Sheep Movie
• When Marnie Was There

Who I want: Inside Out, Pixar's best in years!!!!

Who I think: Depending on how the academy feels on Pixar winning again, either Inside Out or Anomalisa for a more mature film..

Best Animated Short Film

• Bear Story
• Prologue
• Sanjay's Super Team
• We Can't Live Without Cosmos
• World of Tommorow

Who I want: World of Tommorow for Herzfeldt's first win please, incredible.

Who I think: Buzz abounds on Sanjay's Super Team

Best Original Score

• Bridge of Spies
• Carol
• The Hateful Eight
• Sicario
• Star Wars : The Force Awakens

Who I want: Finally, Star Wars, my favorite thing in the world and movie of the year 2015 on this site. You can guess who I want. Also would be open to the great Hateful Eight score too.

Who I think: For categories like this probably something within conventions like Bridge of Spies or Carol...

Best Sound Editing

• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Martian
• The Revenant
• Sicario
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Who I want: I would be happy with any on here, but especially of course Star Wars

Who I think: I can see The Martian or The Revenant having the most critic potential for their ambience.

Best Sound Mixing

• Bridge of Spies
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Martian
• The Revenant
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Who I want: Once again I would be happy with any, but Star Wars too, win them all!

Who I think: Same as above reasons for Martian, Revenant. Or could be a token award for Bridge of Spies...

Best Cinematography

• Carol
• The Hateful Eight
• Mad Max Fury Road
• The Revenant
• Sicario

Who I want: The Hateful Eight by far, one of the film's best suits. Would be happy with Mad Max or The Revenant too as always.

Who I think: I could see any about equal, perhaps Sicario dark horse, if not Carol or The Revenant too,

Best Film Editing

• The Big Short
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Revenant
• Spotlight
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Who I want: Star Wars, duh... a lot of good ones here though.

Who I think: I can see The Revenant or Mad Max, or perhaps something like Spotlight.

Best Visual Effects

• Ex Machina
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Martian
• The Revenant
• Star Wars: The Force Awaken

Who I want: Ahh my favorite category because always the movies right up my alley... and so I will have to choose Star Wars, its best shot of the night, but would be happy with any.

Who I think: I got a shiny and chrome Mad Max feeling, or Revenant for that bear.

Overall neat, we'll see how right I am and if not curious anyways!!! Tune in Sunday evening the 28^th.

Deadpool Review

Deadpool
Director: Tim Miller 
Cast Headliners : Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccrin, Stefan Kapcic, Ed Skrein, etc
Original Release Date : February 12th, 2016

  There's been a lot of dream movies lately and coming,and Deadpool is without a doubt one of them. It's been a crazy journey. First the character finally appeared but was ruined in 2009's X-men: Origins : Wolverine, which contained a decent brief Wade Wilson but a terribly mis-adapted “The Dead Pool”. Since then rumors of a version that did the character justice have floated around and it seemed to be in production forever. Now, finally, several X-men films and a timeline reboot later, the time has come to deliver on the promise, and it certainly wonderfully does and is the movie a fan would always want and offers a fantastic starting point to this character even if meeting him for the first time.

As fitting for the character, the movie starts off in media res and plays around with time (amongst many other twisting of film conventions and 4^th walls!) as it goes on. Right from the first moment we meet Wade Wilson aka Deadpool( Ryan Reynolds, reprising his role from 2009 but damn awesomley right this time) as he goes on hillarious, action-packed rampage tracking down someone named Francis/Ajax (Ed Skrein). The movie's incredibly hillarious and unique sense of humor is noticeable from even the opening credits and its a nonstop ride of blood and laughs over the next couple hours ahead.

Deadpool is the film's title and protagonist but its an understatement that he's the shining blazing wonderful highlight of the film as well. He has a cool perfectly-comics accurate costume (aided by subtle CGI) that luckily stays on for the main majority of the film and he has a regenerating mutant ability that puts Wolverine to shame (and is used in some hillarious moments). These make for incredibly awesome action scenes (aided by the frenetic craft of director Tim Miler) and also give him a sense of immortality not quite like any other super”hero” to grace cinema. But he's no hero, and that's a brilliant point. Deadpool, once he gets his powers, has an insanity to him and a willingness to murder that sets him apart. This leads to plentiful moments that have a combination of badassness, humour, and even a bit of a comment on the way other heroes do things. And all along the way Reynolds fully embodies the character's personality. From his voice , wacky lines, and even the way he moves he's LITERALLY as perfect to the comics as can be. This is true even whether he's in the full costume, unmasked with his mutated makeup face, or pre-powered. This role was the actor's destiny to play, and his wonderfully hillarious perfection in it definitely heals the wounds of his previous X-men appearance and even attempts at other comic movies like Green Lantern, RIPD, and Blade 3. Of course the first two on that list are mocked many times through the film which is another great example of the movie's wacky meta-ness. Everything is something the character would have done on the original iconic pages.

The humor beams out of the amazing central star but it comes from nearly every corner of the world around him as well. The movie is so fortunate to have been rated R as it wouldn't have worked so well as it does without it. The jokes are often dirty, vulgar, and extreme but always hillarious whether referential or uniquely slapstick. The swears and pop culture come constant, fast, and fitting. While one constantly enjoys the Merc with a Mouth's presence the supporting cast has some great lines as well. There's Deadpool's friend Weasel (TJ Miller), roomate Blind Al (Leslie Uggams) and the prime X-men connection that comes in a perfectly comics-accurate, overly noble, and properly Russian recast Colossus (Stefan Kapcic) and his trainee Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand). The character's share the films snappy pace and writing on their own and are magnified when interacting with Deadpool. The X-men connection is prime for some referential jokes but also the movie firmly stands alone as somehthing stand-alone and arguably more fresh and superior to its parent franchise.

Now it takes a bit for this portion to happen and its interestingly mixed with the above but there's also the film's aspect as a origin story and main motivation. Wade Wilson falls in love with Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) in his pre-mutated days. The romantic plot is of course very R-rated , but actually Vanessa and Wade's romance is surprisingly great as well. Baccarin does a great job as the very kind of person Deadpool would find interest in, and their moments together are humorously , darkly charming and memorable. She is arguably one of the best “love interests” around in this genre. Wade seeks a treatment for a immense cancer that develops, and his dark experience and her subsequent kidnapping is what sets the full plot full circle and provides a touching tone at parts.

If anything does not match the fireworks of bloody laughs and fun that is the rest of the film's quality, it's the villians and their role to the plot. Skrein's prime antagonist Ajax is ...there but utterly generic aside from being a pain in Deadpool's side enough to act as a catalyst ( a point which the film itself even mocks). Gina Carano's Angel Dust character is around for fierceness and a couple comedic moments but similiarly fades away in the tapestry of mania that is the rest of the experience. One never feels that anyone Deadpool faces is a threat, and they wouldn't be, but it adds to the aspect of the movie having a very simple plot and progression of events compared to its shenangins elsewhere. But when a person, hardcore comics fan or newcomer, comes to see a Deadpool movie its HIM that counts and it delivers on that. The rest of the opposing force and villians are just a excuse for fun antics, and maybe that's in itself another meta point.

Overall, and this is coming from someone who views Deadpool as one of their favorite comic “characters” (he's not exactly a hero and knows it) , it is nearly a perfect dream come true. This is mainly in the plentiful fun moments and Reynold's starring role. But even in its metaness, insanity, musical choices, and remix of superhero staples (there's a Stan Lee cameo of course) it is exactly the movie it should be and is. More than perhaps a few exceptions in film history, it feels like one is reading a Deadpool comic book that's come to life on screen. That aspect is what counts, and one cannot wait to see where this character goes because it starts of to an amazingly unique, fresh, and yet warmly familiar to hardcore fans start. The newcomer will love it as wel as it just bleeds fun in addition to its red. They made the chimichanga no doubt. 9 out of 10

Zoolander No.2 Review

Zoolander No.2
Director: Ben Stiller 
Cast Headliners : Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Penelope Cruz
Original Release Date : February 12th, 2016

  The original Zoolander was very much a film of its era of the late 90s/early 00s. Packed with cameos of relevant celebs of the day and having a zany attitude, set of jokes, and colorful fashion aesthetic it definitely stands as one of Ben Stiller's silliest and best in his repertoire. Now a sequel in Zoolander No.2 has arrived, and it mostly carries on from the good aspects of that, Blue Steel included.

The film nicely takes into account the gap since the previous release within the world. After the events of the first film, Derek Zoolander(Ben Stiller, also in the director's chair again) has become secluded in the hilariously desolate icy wilds of “extreme Northern New Jersey” after the death of his wife Matilda(Christine Taylor) and distancing from his son Derek Jr(Cyrus Arnold). Billy Zane (yes, himself as himself) gathers him and his old rival/friend Hansel (Owen Wilson) to attend Don Atari(Kyle Mooney)'s show in Rome and their careers and the film's comedic adventures begin again. Simultaneously, the world's most good looking people are being murdered (including a demise of Justin Bieber that's worth the price of admission) and Interpol agent Melanie Valencia(Penelope Cruz) seeks the help of the supermodel duo.

If this all sounds a little messy, it's because it is. The movie's plot is, as with the first, all over the place with its melding of fashion, comedy, and action. The cast is huge, bringing back pretty much EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER EVER from the first film aside from Derek/Hansel, including Mugatu(Will Ferrell) and his assistant Todd(Nathan Lee Graham) and more that have to be seen. This also includes cameo roles whether in character such as the wacky new additions as villainous Alexanya (Kirsten Wiig), the assistant VIP (Fred Armisen), or as themselves in hillarious and surprisingly meaningful turns by Kiefer Sutherland and Sting and more that have to be witnessed first hand. There's a lot of moments that showcase these cameos for comedic effect and one's enjoyment of the cameo parade is up to them.

But if one seeks the core “plot”, it's a decent silly time as well. Without a doubt out of the sea of characters Stiller's, Wilson's, and Ferrell's turns definitely are the best. They seem to have walked right off the screen of the first installment and have many great lines and moments. Their unique wacky personalities and moments are still here, although it must be said that a large portion of jokes (although not the majority) are just remixes or references to the fact of the same jokes from the old one. When the jokes are taken to the next level, they're humorous, but sometimes the audience may feel deja vu. That's not to say there aren't funny bits of new material as well.

Essentially the film is just a parade of the same wacky classic characters, colorful silly aesthetic , and celeb cameo moments one would expect out of the sequel that this is. It doesn't break major new ground and its short and thin plot holds it back from the originality of the first one. But if one liked that one, this is some overall pretty decent dumb laughs. 7.7 out of 10

The Revenant Review

The Revenant
Director: Alejandro Inarritu 
Cast Headliners : Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domnhall Gleeson
Original Release Date : December 25th (very limited), January 8th (wide)

    There's a lot of very great things to think of when considering The Revenant. There's the intense process that went into filming it, there's the fantastic talent involved, and perhaps most crazy of all is that the story of Hugh Glass is a largely true one. The players in this piece come into it after big steps in their career and the question is can they keep delivering. The answer is for the most part a resounding YES.

The film begins rolling far out in the American Western wilderness at the dawn of the winter of 1823. A group of fur trappers including Hugh Glass(Leonardo DiCaprio), his son Hawk(Forrest Goodluck) and their companions John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), young Jim Bridger(Will Poulter), and company commander Cpt.Andrew Henry(Domhnall Gleeson.) Events transpire including Native American attacks and the harshness of nature which leads to a truly epic journey for Glass that intensely unfolds bit by bit.

The movie is for the most part a tale of survival and all the bloody , gritty carnage and intensity that comes with it. The atmosphere and scenery is ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING as the uppercase text is a understatement. Director Alejandro Inarritu amazed with his frenetic close style and overall amazing accomplishment in 2014's Birdman so its not surprise he brings his incredible talent here. Every shot feels crisp whether it be up close to the action or in zoomed out beautiful nature landscapes. His cinematography gives a somber introspection to slow moments and a pulsepounding unnerving intensity to action when it does in fact appear. It makes the viewer feel as if they are really watching Glass himself on his journey. This is aided in that the cast actually went through a lot of the steps to create the movie. Making these varied and beautiful snowy vistas was as epic a tale in the real world as it turns out to in the final result and thats something which would make the film amazing in itself. The touch of Inarritu is one of magic art and isnt quite replicated by others in the industry today.

Visceral action and dazzling scenery/sequences is one thing but its just one gem in this movie's wonderful crown. Leonardo DiCaprio is simply awesome as Hugh Glass. Glass doesnt always get the chance to actually talk but instead delivers his prescence through nonvocal grunts and just doing things. Often alone, his pain is often expressed to the auidnece through the sheer talent of Leo's movements and reactions. This is one for the ages running a range of intense emotions. Maybe now he can finally earn that Oscar which is made even more impressive with the afromented really doing it all that it took to create and embody this movie.

The rest of the movie's small named cast is quality but the other highlight is without a doubt Tom Hardy's Fitzgerald. The same kudos could be mostly said of Leo as to him though he brings with him even more some great if gruff statements. Hardy is once again unrecognizable, adopting a thick frontiersman accent and distinct bearded beaten up look. Both him and Leo transform and make us feel for them whether it be cheering on or in anger. Either on their own would be commendable but together makes the film that much better.

It's beautiful filmcraft and filled with fantastic performances but with so much going on of course some things will slip through the cracks though luckily minimal. The film is really long but because of the stakes at hand and variety of enviroments gone through its worth it to this writer to see what dangers of nature or man await but it may turn some of in its artistic deep introspection moments that slow down the pace from time to time. And for everything that feels so gritty and real there are the times when it does break reality a bit for visions or the well known bear attack that feel slightly incongrous. The bear attack luckily feels very real but seeing the small bit of CGI used in a film otherwise devoid of it makes one think “that's some CGI” however it is a thrilling sequence like the other's action.

Its a overall amazing product. Perhaps it doesnt break ground as much as Inarritu's last directorial effort Birdman did: there's no meta-angle, the pace slows at times, the music is more typical, its more of a straightforward period survivor story. But he once again shows how to make something well looking and packed with powerful performances and moments. Once the intensity starts going it just gets more and more crazy and the ending moments feel that much more impactful for the journey before it. Bravo all, and extra shoutout to LeoDICap for being a stellar point of view to be alongside. 9.2 out of 10

The Hateful Eight Review

The Hateful Eight
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Cast Headliners : Samuel L Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh , Walton Goggins
Original Release Date : December 25th/slow wide rollout in weeks ahead 2015

(Briefer since done from relatives on mobile )

 Quentin Tarantino is the kind of director who's style is distinct in everything he does. One can expect plentiful cusses, interesting characters, intricate plots and so on. 2012's Django Unchained showed his first foray into the Western genre worked quite amazingly with his talents. His second Western , The Hateful Eight , uses most of them well but a bit different yet still incredibly enjoyable take is used than that heroic tale or his past grit being somewhere in the middle.

  The film takes place in post-Civil War, deep winter , wilderness Wyoming as Major Marquis Warren ( Samuel L Jackson ) has some bounties to take to town and he runs into fellow bounty hunter John Ruth ( Kurt  Russell ) with his highly valued captive Daisy Domergue ( Jennifer Jason Leigh ) and company. Events transpire which leaves them stranded together with the titular "hateful " strangers in a blizzard who include gentlemenly Brit Oswaldo ( Tim Roth ), former Confederate general Smithers ( Bruce Dern ), Bob from Mexico (Demian Bichir), and soon to be sheriff Cliff Mannix ( Walton Goggins ) amongst others.
       
    Every single one of the characters in this piece are both incredible perfroamances by their actors as well as fascinating characters .  Jackson and Russell especially are in their finest charismatic form , and have some great scenes. Leigh's Daisy also brings a cool angle to the film as a sort of villian. One can't wait to see these different eccentric characters interact , and oh they certainly do.  Channing Tatum is also great in a role that has to be seen first hand.

   the  film uses one  sole primary setting but Tarantino makes things interesting. Beautiful shots are used inside and out and the world feels so real which makes it more played straight then the anachronistic parts of Django.   This is stretched at times when shots are used for awhile...
   One could see merit in the long drawn out approach Tarantino takes , but that doesn't hide its a lonnnnnng film running almost three hours. Not all of it is needed , but if one has the time to spare its worth it to see the great slow burn dark mystery of a plot unfold.  there's some, emphasis on that, bloody  action hiding deep within too.
  It's big and long and stuffed with plot twists but it shows a different spin from Tarantino on a Western. In the end it's worth it to see these acting legends do their thing and expectations to be surprised. 9.05 out of 10

My Top 10 Favorite Films/Video Games of 2015

Here it is, the end of this crazy big year. Not just for personal life, but for media as well.  Without further ado, here are my FAVORITES of the year moreso than objective quality.


TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2015:

#1: Star Wars (Episode VII): The Force Awakens, for being a dream come true both in the fact that it happens and in quality following on the end of the legends before
it bravo JJ and every part of it.

#2: Mad Max: Fury Road, for being SHINY AND CHROME yet really in its intense atmosphere and beautiful visuals and plentiful action, performances simply woah.

#3: Avengers (2): Age of Ultron, for somehow being just as crazy and cool as the groundbreaking first and just about upping the notch for scale if not more of the
cool superhero same

#4 : The Hateful Eight, for it's interesting characters and dense mysterious Tarantino plot and shiny Western style if long but worth it for the resolution.

#5: (Fast and the) Furious 7, for having insane action, plentiful laughs, and mainly from the epic amount of intentional cheese as well as feels for Paul Walker
handeld well wit this ensemble cast.

#6: Inside Out, for being Pixar's best original idea in years and offering their best laughs and emotion and artistic beauty as those legends.

#7: The Martian, for being funny, realistic, intense, and a happily inspiration space Damon adventure.

     (I would put the excellent animated Song of the Sea but its year status is shaky so) #8: Kingsmen: The Secret Service, for its crazy action and laughs in bound
while also being thoroughly unique fun ride dat SLJ villian.

#9: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, for offering a emotional , intense action packed finale for the series making up for some flaws on the way with a powerful
set of showdowns.

#10: Ex-Machina, for chilling cinematic shots and thrilling dialogue with powerful performances and big ideas.


Honorables with a word:
#11: Ant-man (funny !)
#12:Spectre (Waltz!)
       (Would do  powerful Selma but shaky year release status) #12: Jurassic World (Dinos!)
       #13: Southpaw( boxing!)
       #14: Crimson Peak (ghosts!)
       #15: Tommorowland(imagination!)

TOP 10 VIDEO GAMES OF 2015:



#1 and GOTY:  Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, for offering an incredibly dense and lengthy set of missions and things to do, with a story that is at
times sparse but when powerful its so powerful, yet mainly wins this for offering the most dynamic stealth gameplay of the series if not ever and a pinnacle achievement
of Hideo Kojima before their closure under konami as it breathes excellence, beauty, and craft.

#2: Fallout 4, for finally happening and bringing a massive world with it that belongs right up there with the legendary Fo3 if not in newness but wonderful
exploration times and detailed crafting, fun combat, for endless stories in the wasteland.

#3: Splatoon, because offering the chance to be a squid now or a kid now with unique colorful visuals and innovative multiplayer shooting gameplay with a great
campaign/boss battles on the side making it Nintendo's freshest game in years.

#4:The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, because of dat writing and sidequest complexity as well as a beautiful massive world larger than any others on this list as well
as immensely fun intricate hardcore combat in a long epic saga of a story.

#5: Super Mario Maker, by making 2d game design fun and casual with the legendary brand as well as some fresh ideas that come from its remix nature; endless levels
online literally infinite fun crazy replay value.

(Would put Majora's Mask 3D here for being an amazing game with nice remake and features, but remakes dont count imo so actually).....................
............ #6: Star Wars Battlefront (EA), for bringing back most of the fun aspects of the gameplay core of the past ones in this series but most of all
for having some of the best visuals ever and capturing that Star Wars feel with some sweet mp maps and modes that will get even cooler in time.

#7: Yoshi's Wooly World, for its excellent  charming visuals, music, level design, and simple smooth platforming gameplay that perhaps even surpasses Epic Yarn
and some of the past in the series.

#8: Batman: Arkham Knight, for having more of the same excellent  sneaking and combat, beautiful visuals, and a epic story/characters if not brought down by
 a little bit too much of the alright but not the best batmobile as well simply not being as excellent as its past games in the series if not still really cool.

#9: Undertale, for having amazingly amazing music and unique time based combat in a otherwise funny interesting Earthbound style RPG and thats something it
well earns being compared to.

#10: Halo 5:Guardians, intense shooting gameplay and some sweet levels if not the best plot but certainly awesome multiplayer with the cool warzone and crazy
action.

Honorables with a word:
#11: Guitar Hero Live (live play!)
#12: Bloodborne (atmosphere!)
#13: Call of Duty: Black Ops III (content!)
#14: Mad Max (cars!)
#15: Pillars of Eternity (classic!)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review

Star Wars (Episode VII): The Force Awakens

Director: JJ Abrams
Cast Headliners: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyongo,  MANY  many many others

Original Release Date : December 18th, 2015

(whew 100th post! and so crazy to be finally doing this review wow, dreams!)

TO START WOW; disclosure in that the Star Wars franchise , from films to animation to novels to merchandise to video games and more aka all of this amazing universe is my favorite media anything in my life ever.  George Lucas' legendary creation changed the world but it also influenced my life immensely as well offering impactful lessons, adventurous action, and sparked my imagination from the highest height of excellence  to the lowest of  holiday wookiee specials.... I take it all. So of course I would have taken anything that came out of Disney's acquisition of the godly IP. Even more of a dream besides the franchise being thriving once again is that Star Wars: (Episode 7) The Force Awakens is FINALLLLLLLY delivering the tale of what happens after the end of the 1980s' Episode VI Return of the Jedi. Dedicated fans knew the prequels were one promise but that Lucas promised we were seeing a 9 (or perhaps 12 as he mentioned in a small comment decades back, though “trilogy” implies one thing)  film saga. So it was an amazing shock this is here, but also its like that gift I and the fandom were promised a long time ago. It's a dream that THE saga is back and I can so happily says it overall delivers on belonging amongst the best.

The film picks up, just as real life, around 30 years after the end of Episode 6 and Luke, Han, Leia and crew defeated the Empire's second Death Star.  It's immediately revealed in the opening crawl that Luke has gone missing and both the First Order(formerly the Empire ) and Resistance (formerly the Rebels) to search for him. As always its a tale that must be seen first hand but what it is effective on is providing a sucessor to the end of the original trilogy. It answers a lot of questions, but it keeps large swathes of what happened in between the trilogies vague and perhaps thats a good thing as this is just the start of a era and Star Wars has always been best when piquing our interest for more with hints to a bigger world. It certainly does that without leaving the audience's feeling entirely lost. It is effective as both a sequel and new beginning and that's Disney's most impressive accomplishment.   While it's literally integral to the plot, I wish we'd seen more of Mark Hammil's Luke but well that ties into its marketing and other great themes as well...... all part of the “legends” angle that's in the film.

There's so many things to discuss so there's no better way than to just dive into it.  First are the new younger characters to the franchise introduced here.   The main heroes come in Rey (Daisy Ridley) a desert scavenger on Tatooine-but-more-surreal ( in a post-apocalpytic way carried throughout the film as wreckage of past battle dots it)Jakku and Finn an ex-stormtrooper of the First Order.  Rey, much to a delightful surprise, is actually the film's lead protagonist. Ridley showcases an wonderful talent from naivity of the past Anakin/Luke to dramatic emotion to humor to combat skill.  Equal remarks can be said of John Boyega as Finn, who brings a aspect to the franchise we've never seen in the core films with dealing with  his changing  of factions.  Each brings a energetic fresh set of interesting personalities when theyre alone, but together they have great  exciting chemistry for the ruckus that occurs.  Both grow ever more enjoyable as the film progresses and I cant wait to see more of them as they are worthy of joining the best. There's also the adorable and perhaps even moreso cooler-than-R2  droid BB-8, viley evil General Hux(Domnhall Gleeson) who has dynamic interactions with his peers nuanced Kylo( who I'll get to shortly), mysterious Supreme Leader Snoke (a mocapped Andy Serkis), and the cold but ultimately more minor than expected yet still cool and in a way integral Captain Phasma(Game of Throne fame Gwendoline Christie).  Word is that she'll get an expanded role in the sequel, along with hopefully equally solid if sparesely seen Resistance pilot Poe Dameron ( a great Oscar Isaac) and wise Maz Kanata( a mocapped Lupita Nyongo) amongst others. 

Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) has within the span of these couple hours cemented himself as an incredible actor and villian as well. While he looks like a  helmeted dark menace Vader, and he very much is, he brings a nuance that evokes what someone like Anakin in the prequels didnt have due to his talent, occasional failure , rage, and overwhleming force of  unique personality. This is raised tenfold as the movie goes on, but just know youll love every minute of him whether one's scared or other reactions. And of course there's his tri-lightsaber seeing some action. A fitting young edgy adversary for the new generation. It's an impressive cast and I admit I'd totally have loved the movie even if it was just all these newcomers. But it's more than that. 

      That's because this film is both a new start and a legacy to the past.   It certainly feels fresh with its wonderful visuals and directorial style trademark of JJ Abrams, but more expertly is the overall tone of THE best of the old ones.    Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca(Peter Mayhew) end up finding their way into the plot and its not a spoiler to say they are kings of the show for coolness and humor.  For perhaps decades Harrison Ford has seemed like he's bored and grumpy in any roles he's taken but here he's simply, amazing. It's like Return of the Jedi and the other OT were made yesterday for his enthusiasm and passion, and as a fan that makes this so perfect from a Han angle.   Besides being the Han we remember, the movie contains more of that fun swashbuckling vibe that was slightly missing from the prequels.  The humor, some of the best ever, is delivered by veteran and newcomer alike and it is just witty and feels natural like the classics.  There's also a bunch of references to old lines and happenings, important and for comedy, but it just works.   C3PO (Anthony Daniels) adds to this, Leia( Carrie Fisher) adds to this, R2, and so on making it have  a classic  very Star Wars core and overall well done one at that.    

 

Besides characters' personality and humor from the old one this comes into the film itself too. Action brings the visceralness of the Millenium Falcon , X-wings, TIE fighters and so on but aided by Abrams visual touch.   Planets are perhaps less varied than the prequels but invoke some beautiful shots (See in IMAX!).   Music is done by John Williams, leaning more torwards ambient than iconic with the new stuff but some old themes are used well and however there's some golden moments buried in the new competent material.  Physical proprs and locations are used making it very much like it was actually made like a 70s/80s film too and it shines in  the trademark wacky aliens, creatures, and hints to a larger world (vague just as the early Star Wars were as well, up to one's interpretation if thats good or not but I enjoy that they can go from BB-8's great reactions to including staple OT moments like “ have you heard of the Trillian Massacre?”.  The movie's star wars magic levels are high on the charts.  This also ties into the cool meta angle that the main heroes and villians have when it comes to the plot and viewing the past, but that's a story for another day for fans to dissect for years and its sparked by it being presented so well. 

     While JJ and crew have overall taken what was great about the originals and brewed up a pretty crazy cool followup, it of course is true that not all of it is entirely new. The elements which seem familiar are so because they're drawn from a greatest hit of homages to the franchise. Most of the scoop in this Star Wars sundae comes specifically from Episode4, with their being a desert planet opening, a important droid,  wacky cantina to visit with Han Solo and Chewie, and climatic battle against a big First Order/enemy base. There's also moments of Episode5 (Twists, darkness, a snow planet), 6 (a hologram emperor and a bridge), and even some of the prequels (Prophecy talk and well ...Kylo's Renning).  But while this holds it back from being a true legend as it draws from so much of the actual milestones in film history, that's not a bad thing as its using the best of those materials while still bringing in some fresh stuff hidden within for a new adventure.  I think that's JJ Abram's greatest life accomplishment in this balancing of old and new, and Id say this has been my favorite film and his best for that reason.  Before he was trying to be Star Wars in his Star Treks, here he actually did it to amazing effect. Though I will welcome someone for future entries to take it off the rails from the homages perhaps now that we have all this out of the way. 

           The Episode VII we all hoped for could have been anything, especially if George Lucas would have had a more heavy hand on it oh boy, so I am of course very happy and glad for Disney/Abrams and co taking it on. No it's not too family friendly, no it's not too much like the Marvel cinematic universe since its Star Wars through and through in every way.  It brings the legendary aspects back and creates some fresh possibilities. While its familiar in many ways thats an incredibly fine thing to me and many Id say. As Han says, “We're home.”  And now that the dots are connected from old to new, it's even more exciting for where the franchise can go that it lives again.  Almost a new legend in itself, but as always the way it should be and as Lucas said “poetry.” 9.76 out of 10