Best and Worst Movies of 2015

With 2015 over and 2016 already rolling, here are my picks for the best and worst of last year. I didn't get a chance to see everything and these are just my personal choices!

Worst

Honorable Mentions:

Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser

I couldn't count it in my list cause it was a Crackle exclusive, but this might be the worst thing I've ever seen.

The Ridiculous 6

Nice David Spade. Nice. But a funny baseball scene actually is worth watching. 

5. 50 Shades of Grey

Not as bad as I've heard people say it was. The characters, minus Dakota Johnson's Anna, are unlikable, there's not really a plot, and the dialogue is extremely cheesy. I did however not hate the scene where Anna and Christian review the contract. 

4. Taken 3

This is one of the worst action movies I've ever seen. Bryan Mills is far from the cool badass he was in Taken. Hopefully we're done with this franchise. 

3. Pay the Ghost

This was a small Nic Cage flick, which is definitely a movie to watch with friends and make fun of. Cage doesn't even really get a chance to freakout, which is the real disappointment.

2. Accidental Love

A small movie that reminds us that Jake Gyllenhaal is human. This movie is offensively unfunny. Come on now.

1. Fantastic Four

When a comic book movie is compared to Batman & Robin and Superman IV, you know it's terrible. However, I understand what happened here. Director Josh Trank was undercut by the studio, and shades of greatness are visible within this pile of garbage. 

Best

Honorable Mentions:

Inside Out

Pixar is back and dares you not to cry.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron

Not as good as the first but it is entertaining and fun.

The Revenant

Leo is gonna get his Oscar, but the real star is director Alejandro G. Innaritu. 

10. It Follows

Incredibly stylish and cool while also being intense. One of the coolest horror movies to come out in a while.

9. The Good Dinosaur

A lot of people love Inside Out and didn't love this. I thought it was flawless animated and I enjoyed it's lack of dialogue. 

8. Straight Outta Compton

Great for all kinds of reasons. Incredible soundtrack (obviously), acting performances, and camera work combine to make this one of the most fun movies to watch of the year. 

7. Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation

The best of the M:I series so far. The plane scene, the opera scene, and that motorcycle chase are all incredible. Rebecca Ferguson nearly steals the show from old Tom Cruise. 

6. The Hateful Eight

Tarantino keeps rocking and rolling. This movie has a great score and fantastic performances all around, especially from Samuel L. Jackson and Jennifer Jason Leigh. A great tribute to old school film.

5. Ex Machina

One of the most underrated movies of the year. Star Wars alumnus Oscar Isaac and Domhnall Gleeson star with Alicia Vikander to create of the most interesting movies ever made. A tense and perplexing thriller.

4. Creed

Ryan Coogler creates the best movie in the Rocky franchise. Sly is back and perfect as Rocky and Michael B. Jordan proves he can stand on his own. A perfect mix of old and new.

3. The Martian

Matt Damon and Ridley Scott bring to you an intense and hilarious movie. It's rare a movie can be so bleak but so optimistic. 

2. Mad Max: Fury Road

A 2 hour long car chase that doesn't let up. This is the best action movie of the decade. Hands down.

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

How did this movie live up to the hype? With great characters, fun action sequences, and some of the funniest dialogue I've ever heard. Also Harrison Ford is great. Can't wait for 2017.

Let me know what you guys think! What were your favorite movies of 2015??

Editing

Editing

Editing is very important to the realism of a film. A lot of editing will make you think about that the many takes the shot needed sometimes. Long shots can make an audience feel as if they're in the universe that the film creates. It all depends on how it's used. Editing can be used to insert a stunt man on for your leading actor or piece together a scene from different takes. It's important that the editing of a film helps to create a sense of continuity. 180 shots help show where characters are positioned. Point-of-view shots show where a character is looking. Flashbacks and flash forwards are visual ways is portraying the literal terms of the name. Films can also be edited to music, with a few scenes in Pulp Fiction starting when a song begins and ending when the song ends. Editing also includes switching scenes. Famous examples include the match cut in Lawrence of Arabia, the bone to 2001: A Space Odyssey, and the wipes used in Star Wars. 

Views on Film

Film culture is all about what movies inspire in people. Films are important because they instill ideas, values, and expectations in it's viewers and potential viewers. Films often portray criticisms and praises on historical and political issues and events. Studying film can be important in studying history, because it can offer a view from people who were there, designed to be shown to people who were also there.

Films are the birth child of screenwriters, who generate ideas. The idea can either be an original idea, and adaptation of a story, novel, or actual historical event. This idea is then expanded into a script or screenplay. Characters from this screenplay can evolve past the script and screen. They can become cult phenomenons that are praised by viewers and ultimately immortalized by their short time in a film. 

Different types of film appeal to different people. This means some films may be loved by others and hated by some.  They may spark debate and controversy with their content. A film-goer against violence might not want to watch an action movie. A male film-goer will be less likely to view a romantic-comedy. Cultural values and ideas are an important part of film because it alters the  viewers and directors perception of the film. It can also force people to have differing opinions.  

Viewing many films will show aspects of film viewers might not have previously noticed. Diving into the production process, cinematography, editing, sound, genres, and critical perspectives will offer a different view of films. You might find more flaws in film, but you might also find more positive things as well. 

Film Distribution

Distributing movies has always been an interesting subject. Film distribution is becoming even more interesting because of VOD (video on demand). Distributing used to include theatrical releases, selling, renting, or other exhibitions such as festivals. Feature films are usually first released at a premiere, which attracts stars and media coverage. Then films may be released in wide, limited, or exclusive release. Wide release opens in hundreds of theaters simultaneously. This was introduced in 1975 by Steven Spielberg's Jaws. Limited release means a film may only be released in major cities. Exclusive release films premiere in only one or two locations. Some films, such as Jurassic Park and Star Wars, have been released theatrically multiple times. Some recent films have been released straight to DVD or VOD. Films often move their release dates to avoid competition with other films. The Matrix moved it's release date to avoid competition with Star Wars: Episode I, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation moved to July to avoid Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Batman v Superman to avoid Captain America: Civil War. 

The Force is Strong with these Films

In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, the entertainment world was completely enthralled with a trilogy of films. The original Star Wars trilogy was spectacle of modern cinema. The sound and visual effects have been marveled at ever since it’s release. The first two films of the trilogy are generally considered to be the superior films of the entire franchise. Star Wars, later retitled to Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope, and The Empire Strikes Back, also known as Star Wars: Episode V-The Empire Strikes Back, are widely considered to not only be two of the greatest science fiction movies of all-time, but two of the greatest films ever made. 

Even though The Empire Strikes Back is a sequel to Star Wars, the film’s tone is vastly different. In the previous film, Luke, Han, and Chewbacca rescue  Princess Leia with the aid of Obi-Wan Kenobi and two droids called R2-D2 and C-3P0, and later destroy the Empire’s greatest weapon, the Death Star. The film is an underdog story with a lighthearted tone. There are a few minor twists, but at the end of the film the good guys win and the Empire and Darth Vader are left broken and humiliated. This carries over to the sequel. Darth Vader is given full control of the Empire’s forces and uses them to hunt down Luke Skywalker and the rebels. Throughout most of the film the protagonists are burdened with struggle, while Darth Vader seems to be getting closer and closer to victory with every scene. Luke trains with the Jedi master Yoda for most of the film and has trouble believing in the Force, flowing energy from the universe and a Jedi’s source of power. Han, Leia and the rest of the gang have been marooned on Han’s broken down starship, the Millennium Falcon, on an asteroid. Vader is having much better luck. After destroying  the rebel base where the protagonists are stationed in the opening scene, he successfully uses bounty hunters to track down Leia and Han. He uses them to lure Luke to their location in an attempt to capture him. However at the end, Han is taken away by the bounty hunter Boba Fett, Luke’s hand is severed, and it is revealed that Darth Vader is Luke’s father. This twist and the sudden cliffhanger ending, are very different from the first film. The rebellion is left broken and Darth Vader has won. 

Darth Vader is much more dangerous in The Empire Strikes Back. He kills his own men throughout as punishment for failing him. In the first film, Grand Moff Tarkin held him back from killing or intimidating his men. In Empire, Vader expects results from his men and uses force to get them. 

Star Wars is filled with mythology and The Empire Strikes Back expands upon it. Luke is taught the ways of the Force by Yoda, after Obi-Wan explained them in the previous film. Darth Vader uses the Force during his climactic duel with Luke as well. 

One of the biggest differences is the climactic duel at the end of both films. In Star Wars, the rebels attack the Death Star and Luke uses the Force to shoot at a small opening and cause the Death Star to explode. Luke is the underdog and wins against Darth Vader, who is chasing him from behind. In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke engages Vader in a lightsaber duel. Darth Vader is a former Jedi, and quite experienced with the Force. Luke is the underdog and it shows. He hardly challenges Vader and when he finally does, Vader slices his hand off. Vader taunts Luke throughout the fight and tries to persuade him to join the Empire. At the end of the duel, Luke is beaten and rescued by Leia.

It is crazy how different these films are, but how beloved they are by audiences around the world. These films stand the test of time and continue to thrill and amaze viewers to this day. One can only imagine, what a modern day Star Wars film could do, and the world will see in less than a year’s time. Whatever the outcome of the film is, it will not try to be as good as the originals, because as Yoda told Luke, “Do or do not, there is no try.”

Free Comic Book Day 2015

Avengers (All New, All Different)

With Iron Man, the new female Thor, Vision, Falcon as Captain America, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man, and Nova leading this group it looks to be a fun new run and showcases the groups growing teamwork.

Uncanny Inhumans 

I don't know much about the Inhumans but this sells me and I'll be checking out the new series when it comes around. 

Max Ride: First Flight

Only a page of art but it looks great!!

Divergence

Batman: The Rookie

If you like Batman this is a must read, it's a great look into things to come after Batman #40. 

Superman: Exposed

Superman's alter ego is revealed to the world and he is on the run in this preview. It's an interesting look at how people would actually react to this happening. 

Justice League- Darkseid War Prologue Two: The Other Amazon

Very intriguing look into Amazonian lore which will pick up with a huge storyline in the summer. Can't wait!!

Scooby-Doo Team-Up

The crew teams up with the the Super Friends to help them catch ghosts. I loved the episodes where they teamed up in the 70's so obviously I love this too. 

Teen Titans Go!

I love the original Teen Titans show but dislike the new Teen Titans Go! And re same is true for this series. If you like the show, you'll like this comic.

Secret Wars #0

Bringing the Ultimate Universe to fight against The Marvel Universe seems like Convergence but still should be fun!! 

Mad Max Series Review

In preparation for Mad Max: Fury Road, I'm watching the Mad Max series for the first time!

Mad Max (1979)

Mel Gibson is vengeful in this film. The action scenes are insanely brilliant. I could do without the crazy score throughout the movie and some of the corny dialogue but I'll forgive this nearly 40 year old movie for that. The opening chase sequence is flawless as well. Grade: 3/5 🌟🌟🌟

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1982)

This movie steps it up. The action is just as great as the original and the plot is immensely better. The score is improved and additional characters help to make this film better. Grade: 4/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

Possibly the coolest movie name of all-time. This movie is famous for Tina Turner playing the bad guy and the Thunderdome scene, which does not take up much screen time. The worst of the 3 in my opinion, but it still delivers if you're a fan of the franchise. Grade 3/5 🌟🌟🌟