My Top Ten Favorite Movies of the Year

Top 10 Favorite Movies of the Year 2014

What is your favorite movie? Most people ask you that question on a date or in general as a way to get to know someone.  The responses always vary because it is a matter of opinion.  I have a list of my favorite movies of all time which include many classic and newer films. Although, I have never sat down and made a list of my 100 favorite movies because it is strains my mind too much. I can decide on my top ten favorite movies of the 2014.  Favorite doesn’t mean that my movies are some of the best movies of the year but they could be.

Honorable mentions:

• Birdman
• Lego Movie
• Snow Piercer
• John Wick
• Noah
• 22 Jump Street
• Neighbors
• The Fault in Our Stars
• The Drop
• Peabody and Sherman (surprising I know but darn good movie).

Grand Budapest Hotel characters

10. Grand Budapest Hotel

I love this cast. Grand Budapest Hotel’s cast and their interaction with each other made me see this film twice in the theater.  I’m not a Wes Anderson fan but this film was super amazing. My mom and I have watched the blueray a few times since we got it. The movie itself made me laugh all of the way through it.  I still quote lines from this film and replay scenes in my head. Grand Budapest Hotel is a delightful comedy and Ralph Fiennes is one of the reasons why.

I talk to myself while driving a car too

9. Locke

Tom Hardy is brilliant and one of my favorite actors in Hollywood.  Tom Hardy also starred in The Drop which is probably why it made my honorable mentions list.  Locke is only 90 minutes long but the runtime tells a creative emotionally story which is might be why I adore this film so much. It is also a British film, and I have a soft spot for British entertainment. Tom Hardy really gave a performance of a lifetime because he is a one man trick and pony show in the film. Steven Knight wrote and directed a great indie flick that few people have seen but when they watch it. They will fall for Tom Hardy as an actor as much as I have.  I will see Mad Max: Fury Road in May because Tom Hardy does star in it. I don’t think it will get my money opening weekend though.

Jake Gyllenhaal as Lou
Riz Ahmed as Rick
Nightcrawler directed and written by Dan Gilroy

8. Nightcrawler

I loved Nightcrawler because of the underlying theme.  I also have a preference for sociopathic film characters and Jake Gyllenhaal portrays one.  Nightcrawler’s theme is about greed and selfishness. Lou, Gyllenhaal, is a selfish greedy free lance reporter.  He will sabotage a rival reporter, and put his employee, Rick, in jeopardy to become number 1 in the game. He also blackmails his boss to sleep with him.  Gyllenhaal gave the best acting performance in an American film of this year.  The movie also stars Bill Paxton and Rene Russo. They really make this film great and the film is two hours of pure entertainment and suspense with a lot of jaw dropping moments.

Chef starting Jon Favreau

7. Chef

Chef is one of those films that really hit a note with me. I love to cook but watching Jon Favreau prepare food was awesome. I left the theater hungry and wanting to try one Favreau’s Cabanos from Chef.  Chef is about Chef Carl Casper fall from a prestigious LA chef to a unemployable chef after his tirade with nation wide prestigious food critic at the place of his employment. The film is more importantly about family and having to struggle between your career and your kids. The cast of Chef is spectacular.  The actors all have great chemistry together on screen and make this film a wonderful comedy. I would highly recommend this movie to anybody.  The latina music is super amazing and could see people grooving to it in the their seats. I enjoyed this film so much that I made my grandmother to go the theater with me to see it.

Caesar, Koba, and Maurice on horses

6. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Apes on Horses!!! Dawn of the Planet of the Apes might be better than the first Planet of the Apes.  The plot has so many different directions that makes you think that you know what will happen next but then a character changes that outlook. Andy Serkis, Toby Kebbell, and Karin Konoval play the three most important apes. Serkis is the Caesar, the leader while Kebbell plays Koba and Konoval plays Maurice Caeser’s Lieutenants. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is very realistic film which has beautiful visuals of a post apocalyptic world. Serkis and the other actors playing Apes had motion capture suits on, and the special effects crew made them look like real humanoid apes. I think this is one of the years best films and possibly one of the best blockbuster in a long time. The third one comes out in July 2016 so they will be filming the movie this year.

Captain America 2: the Winter Soldier by Marvel
Director by Joe and Anthony Russo
Starting Chris Evans

5. Captain America 2: the Winter Soldier

Captain America 2 is pure entertainment that has comedy fused in the story from the moment from the first scene. Sam Wilson, Anthony Mackie,  is running around the National Memorial, and Steve Rodgers keeps passing him saying “On your left.”  The moment immediately forms a friendship between Rodgers and Wilson that is why they team up later in the film. Chris Evans is so great as Captain America. He can inspire you to feel patriotic and just a lot like Christopher Reeves as Superman.  I love Captain America more because of Chris Evans.  Captain America 2 is one of the best action movies of the year, and one of the best movies of the year overall. This movie makes you feel like you are watching a Jason Bourne movie with Captain America in it.  Captain America will appear in Avengers: Age of Ultron in May then Captain America: Civil War.  He will fight Iron Man’s ideas and probably Iron Man himself in Civil War in May 2016.

The poster for X-Men Days of Future Past

4.  X-Men Days of Future Past

X-men Days of Future Past corrected the mistakes of Brett Ratner and the First Wolverine movie.  The plot is simple.  Wolverine, Hugh Jackman, travels back in time to prevent Mystique, Jennifer Lawrence, from assassinating Bolivar Trask, Peter Dinkage.  The government creates the Sentinel program because she killed Trask and use her DNA to make the ultimate Sentinel. The Sentinel are super intelligent robots that hunt mutants. The X-Men franchise hit a homer with this movie. It has comedy, amazing action sequences, and it is pure entertainment. The variety of mutants are great and it is nice to see each of them use their own powers.  Simon Kinberg wrote the script which has made the internet fan boys semi-excited for the new Fantastic Four movie coming out in August (he wrote the script).  Bryan Singer returned to the X-Men franchise and got the direction of the franchise back on track.  The film will have a sequel X-Men: Apocalypse which will start filming in April. Fox Studios are releasing a Gambit movie and Deadpool movie which will be part of the X-Men universe.  Ugh, I can’t wait for 2016. I don’t have this movie yet.  Singer cut Rogue from the film and I want Rogue in this movie.

Guardians of the Galaxy directed by James Gunn
Written by Nicole Perlman and James Gunn
Featuring Star-Lord, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, Groot, and Rocket Raccoon

3. Guardians of the Galaxy

This movie is pure fun.  It is a great science fiction movie with great witty dialogue and pop culture references.  This little known comic book property has shocked the world by its success with a worldwide audience and financially was a home run.  The cast is great.  The interaction between characters is spectacular.  This is Marvel’s most entertaining film.  I reply it in my head all of the time.  Guardians will come back to the big screen in May 2017. Again, I can’t wait to see what James Gunn comes up with for the sequel. I have seen it multiple times and still want to dance like Star Lord or along with him.

Edge of Tomorrow directed by Doug Liman
Stars Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt

2. Edge of Tomorrow

Edge of Tomorrow looked so horrible from the trailers, and thanks to bad marketing by Warner Bros, this movie wasn’t a success at the box office domestically. However, the film was a success with its viewing audience. Many people like me just completely were stunned by the movie. Tom Cruise is at his best in Edge of Tomorrow.  He was played the likeable action hero in this movie and nailed the role. Personally, Tom Cruise like Tom Hardy is a guy that I will go see any movie that he is in.  Emily Blunt played the female protagonist,  and she was magnificent.  She and Cruise had such great chemistry on the screen. Edge of Tomorrow is edited in a way where every repeat scene is different.  Cruise plays Major William Cage that is has the ability to reset the day after killing an alien.  Bill Paxton’s character is really outstanding and probably the funniest character in the film. Edge of Tomorrow is a science fiction groundhog day but it is one of the best action movies of the year.

Gone Girl based on the novel by Gillan Flynn
Directed by David Fincher
Starring Ben Affleck
Rosemund Pike
Neil Patrick Harris
Tyler Perry
Carrie Coon

1. Gone Girl

Gone Girl is my favorite film of the year. I love this movie and sold on the plot from the first trailer. Gone Girl is really three hours of pure suspenseful entertainment.  I have seen this film about three times in the theater.  I was still wowed by the suspense and mystery every moment of the film.  Ben Affleck kills it in the movie but it is Rosemund Pike who steals the show. Tyler Perry also a giant scene stealer. Neil Patrick Harris’s final moment in the film will leave you speechless.  Gone Girl had the same tone and setting throughout the whole entire movie.  I will get this DVD and watch several times after I get it.  This might be the best mystery drama produced by Fox in a long time.  David Fincher will probably get an Oscar nomination, and Gillian Flynn will get the best adapted screenplay award.  I will end this list on this final tidbit about Gone Girl.  The movie will make you look twice or think twice about getting married or even dating. I think this why I like it so much.  It makes you question what it means to be in a relationship.

 

 

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Review

Andy Serkis as Caesar in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Caesar’s and Koba’s conflict represents contemporary human conflict

Dawn of The Planet of the Apes is a sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  Andy Serkis plays Caesar; Toby Kebbell plays Kobra; Jason Clarke stars as Malcolm; Gary Oldman as Dreyfus; Keri Russell as Ellie: are the main cast of the film. The protagonist is Caesar, and Koba is the antagonist. The trailers for film show Gary Oldman to be the bad guy, but he is really an reactionary human leader.  Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is one of the best films of the year.

It takes place ten years after it’s predecessor, Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  Rocket (Caesar’s second in command), Koba ( Caesar’s military right hand), Maurice (Orangutan from the first movie and most trusted advisor), and Caesar’s Blue Eyes are council members who advise Caesar in making decisions for the Ape Colony. They have built a home with rules, and Apes speak to each other through verbal or non verbal means.   Make no mistake Caesar rules the colony and has the final say on everything until humans show up. Malcolm, Ellie, and the other group member’s appearance in Caesar’s home causes a lot friction between the apes. They divide in the Ape Leadership which has the potential for war between Humans and Apes.

Caesar and his son, Blue Eyes

Andy Serkis nails it as Caesar.  His acting performance is one of the best interpretations of a heroic character on screen. Caesar is a strong leader. He raises his hand, and every ape shuts up. It is only when human beings show up that some apes like Koba cause friction with Caesar’s leadership ideals.  Caesar’s emotions are shown through the brilliance of Serkis’ facial expressions through his acting. and the brilliant job that the visual effects department did to add tears, happiness, anger, or any other emotion to Caesar’s face. Every actor who played an Ape displayed brilliant emotions in their facial features, and the audience definitely notices this.   Koba is the villain that steals the show.

Toby Kebbell as Koba

Koba is a hurricane of destruction. His background is being a lab rat for most of his life until Caesar’s frees him in the first film.  He has a deep abiding hatred for human beings and you can understand why. He has so many scars on his body that makes it impossible not to sympathize for him; even through he kills humans.  Kebbell gave a great acting performance as Koba.  Koba is a great on screen villain, and the screenwriters and director crafted his story to make him so memorable.

Caesar, Koba, and Maurice on horses in front of the human colony

The screen writers: Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver did an excellent job of crafting a story that has so many twists and turns. The purpose of the story to develop Caesar into a leader for an upcoming war.  Caesar’s son has the most character development, and he’s a strong emotional anchor in the film.  The film is spectacular from Matt Reeve’s direction. The camera shots of the apes on horseback were so perfect. It also constantly raining which symbolizes despair and foreshadows a lot.  Matt Reeves should get kudos for capturing such brilliant emotion from every actor who played an ape on screen. This creative team will be back for the sequel.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes gets a 5/5. It is one of the best movies of the year. It has great acting, storytelling, a great villain, kick ass hero, and the directing is awesome.  The visual effects are so fantastic, and it gives the audience more excitement for the sequel in two years.

Dawn of the Planet of Apes Final Trailer (review)

Dawn of the Planet of Apes Final Trailer (review)

Rise of the Planet of the Apes came out in 2011. I didn’t see the movie in theater because the trailers were not exciting. However, I watched the movie on HBO or Starz and fell in love with the movie. I am big Planet of the Apes fan. The Apes themselves are an allegory for contemporary human society throughout the films. Fox announced Dawn of the Planet of Apes, and I was excited.  They released the first teaser trailer which was about 1 min and a half. The second trailer showed more of Caesar and his apes living peacefully in their society. This final trailer is so fantastic.

The brief summary of the trailer. The trailer begins with Caesar and his Apes on horses outside of the compound where human survivors of Simian Flu are living. Caesar yells to the human survivors that “Apes don’t want war.” We finally get introduced to the the main bad guy. It’s not Gary Oldman. It’s Kobra, the other ape who was given the test serum that enhances cognitive and intellectual ability.  Kobra will be the character who starts a war between Humans and Apes. The trailer also indicates that Oldman’s character, Dreyfus, has made contracted a surviving US Navy ship. They ship will probably lunch missiles at Caesar’s home. I could see the movie ending with a depressing tone.

Andy Serkis, who played Golum, stars as Caesar. The director, Matt Reeves, motioned capture all of the actors playing the Apes. Motion captures the actor’s movements, expressions, and voice which is scanned into a computer. The special effects people use the recording for CGI characters such as Caesar and Kobra. Toby Kebbell plays Kobra and will be the new Dr. Doom in the Fantastic Four Reboot. Gary Oldman, Dreyfus, plays the antagonistic Human leader who wants to kill the Apes.  Jason Clarke, Malcolm, and Keri Russell, Ellie, are the human couple who want to broker a peace between Ape and Human.

The trailer excited me for two reasons. First, Caesar is one of the best characters in all of film history. He’s such a stoic leader, intelligent, compassionate, and more human than most human beings are. Caesar values humanity as equals. The best part of this trailer is the human interaction between Caesar and Malcolm. Caesar calls him “friend, a good man.” However, my favorite part of the trailer is Kobra. Kobra has a voice in this trailer and he’s the asshole of the ape race who wants war. He thinks Apes are superior to humans. I loved in the scene in the trailer where he acts like a silly ape when approaching the human guards. He sneakily takes a gun from them and mercilessly kills the guards with a smile. He reminded me of the Joker.  He also has the best line of the trailer “Caesar loves Humans more than Apes.”  In the movie; we will see the conflict between Caesar and his Lt. Kobra. The new trailer show cased these two narrative story arcs and has increased my excitement for this movie.

Overall, I think Dawn of the Planet of the Apes could be the best summer blockbuster of this year. It will be released on July 11th, 2014.

I will go see Transformers 4: Age of Extinction on Wed and have my review for it on Thursday night.

My top 10 anticipated films for this summer (2014)

Captain American the Winter Solider opens this week and this release I wanted to do a list of my top anticipated films of the summer.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Paramount August 8th, 2014
Turtles left from right:
Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo , Donatello

10.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Teenage Mutant Ninja is one of the most unknown films coming out this summer. We don’t have a lot of information on or footage from the movie. From synopsis; we know Shedder and his foot clan have a grip on New York City political structure. The turtles need to find out their destiny and help April O’ Neil take down Shedder and his foot clan.  Michael Bay is the producer and Jonathan Liebesman is the director (The ring, The ring 2, Clash of the Titans). From the trailer, it looks like the movie will be visually dark for setting and  tone.  The turtles look amazing visually. The reason why this is movie is not higher on my list because there’s one trailer which does show the interaction between the brothers that fans love. Turtle fan’s love the conflict between Leonard and Raphael, the quirkiness of Michelangelo, and the inventiveness of Donatello. This movie has potential to gross  a lot of money world wide.

 

X-men: Days of Future Past by Fox
May 26th, 2014

9.   X-men days of Future Past 

X-men Days of Future past is set in the future where mutants are hunted and killed. Xavier and Magneto send Wolverine back in time to prevent Magneto assassinating a senator which starts a mutant witch hunt by the Sentinels and their creator, Bolivar Trask.  The plot of this movie is unknown. I personality haven’t learned that much from the trailers. No one has seen footage of this movie and the excitement from the general audience is a shoulder shrug. They also made Wolverine the main mutant again and there is so many better mutants that they could have chosen. I think franchise fans want to see someone else be the focus other than Wolverine.  The film’s predecessor, X-Men First Class, was such a great movie for this reason. It focused on Magneto and Xavier and their relationship from friendship to rivals. People wanted a sequel to that movie not this mutant mixing pot of characters.  However, with Wolverine being involved I don’t know how this will play out.  I want more a more of narrative trailer because the two that are out doesn’t get me excited. I also want them to correct the mistake of Gambit and making Cyclops a pussy from the previous films. X-men days of future past has a sequel coming out called X-Men Apocalypse  on May 13th, 2016.

 

A million ways to die in the west by universal
May 30th, 2014

8.  Million Ways to Die in the West

A Million Ways to Die in the West by Seth McFarland. This comedy set in the old west tells the story of a common man and his friends who see people die randomly. The trailer is hilarious. McFarland also brought in great character actors to play roles such as Neil Patrick Harris as the womanizer and Liam Neeson as the gunslinger. I’m really looking for forward for this movie because early reaction has been extremely positive.

 

Frank by Studio 4
Release Date: TBA in the US

7.  Frank

Frank starts Michael Fassbender who plays Frank. Frank is a quirky comedy and the cast is amazing. The trailer is hilarious. The movie received so much positive reviews at Southwest and Sundance film festival that it will increase the potential box office revenue. Critics seemed to love this film.

 

Begin Again by the Weinstein
July 4, 2014

6.   Begin Again

Begin Again is a potential Oscar nominated film. The premise of the movie is a studio executive getting fired and being at the end of his rope. He finds a musician playing at bar and sees a potential star in the making. They set out to make a record at locations with little to no money. The cast is very talent such has Cee Lo Green and  Adam Levine. It’s release date is good because it will attract a lot of the audiences who don’t want to see the superhero movies or action movies.

 

Transformers: Age of Extinction Paramount Pictures
June 27, 2014

5.  Transformers: Age of the Extinction

Transformers: Age of the Extinction is the fourth transformers movie directed by Michael Bay. The storyline is a father finds a dominant Optimus Prime who is being haunted by the United States Government along with his fellow transformers. The government also builds their own transformers including Glavatron which is built from Megatron’s body.  Optimus Prime has no choice but to call on the Dinobots to repeal the Decepticon invasion. The reason why I’m hyped about this movie is the cast. Paramount showed footage from this movie at Cinecon. Critics loved it. It reminded them of the first Transformers movie. The human story seems to work well and it looks funny.  The cast is completely talent and Mark Whalberg is the perfect actor to carry the franchise forward. At the end of the trailer; Optimus bitch slaps the giant robotic T-Rex, Grimlock,  and takes charge. I was sold on this movie from that scene.

 

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes by Fox
Caesar releases his army on July 11th, 2014

4.  Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes. It’s set ten years after the first movie. Man has been wiped out by a deadly virus and a group of survivors are lead by Gary Oldman. Caesar and his apes live in the forest and the group of human thought they had wiped them out. Fox is so excited about this film that they’re already have brought back the writer and director for the sequel. They also have set a release date for this sequel for July 29th, 2016.  The movie only has one trailer but footage screen has gained positive reception.  The next film on my list has similarities to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

 

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 by Sony
May 2nd, 2014
Spidey takes on Rhino, Green Goblin, and Electro

3.  The Amazing Spider-man 2

Sony only has one big blockbuster franchise, and they got to make it count. A few critics have seen this film and compared it to the Dark Knight.  The trailers and featurettes  that have been released have added to my excitement for this film. The acting performances, the dialogue, and special effects from the first film were so amazing. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone have such great chemistry on screen. Jamie Fox is playing a villain which he usually plays good guys. The storyline looks like it will reveal more about Peter’s past.  Electro has a very bad ass look to him. The score will be amazing since Hans Zimmer will do it justice. The special effects and visuals took amazing.This sequel is the second part of a larger universe of Spider-man cinematic universe.  We can expect a Sinister 6 movie, a Venom movie, along with the Amazing Spider-man 3 and 4.  This film is expected to give hints what will come in the Spider-man movie franchise.  The only reason why this film is not one number for me because I can’t wait for the two ahead of it more.

 

Guardians of the Galaxy by Marvel
August 1st, 2014 Left to Right: Star Lord, Drax, Gamora, Groot, Rocket Raccoon

2.  Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy is the final film of Marvel Phase 2 before the Avengers: Age of Ultron which is released on May 1st, 2015. Guardians is about Peter Quill, Star Lord, teaming up with galactic misfits to prevent a deadly force from destroying the universe. The cast is incredible but a lot of the characters have been yet to reveal. My anticipation comes from the trailer. The trailer was completely different from any marvel trailer. It had a lighter tone with a lot of humor. It felt so human too even with aliens being the focus of the film. It will be an action movie and it will explain Thanos. He was the guy at the end of the Avengers. This film will help explain how the Avengers and the infinity stones will play out in the phase three universe.  My next film was always to be number 1.

Godzilla by Toho, Warner Bros.
May 16, 2014

1.  Godzilla

GODZILLA was the first word I ever read. He has been with me since I was two years old. I have been wanting for a new Godzilla movie for 10 years. The two trailers say it all. The film might be only 2 hours but it will be epic. I hoping for a 2 and 1/2 hour film because I really want to see a tangible story. Every account of people seeing Godzilla footage has been so positive. The most current footage of Godzilla was shown at Cinemacon. Adam Sandler and  Drew Barrymore took the stage once that screening was complete to present their upcoming romantic comedy, Sandler joked, “F*** Blended, how about that Godzilla!?!” Barrymore confessed that it had made her cry, declaring, “That is going to be such a hit.” Slash from Guns and Roses saw an early screening and loved the movie. It comes out in 6 weeks and I’ll safety bet the movie will be sold out at almost every showing for opening weekend. Godzilla is my most anticipated movie because it will be probably the best summer blockbuster that strikes a cord with the world and fans will demand more movies. I feel that Godzilla will be a film that everybody loves and leaves the theater satisfy twice or more after they come back to see it that many times.

Honorable Mentions:
The neighbors, Maleficent, Million Dollar Arm, edge of tomorrow, 22 jump street, Get on up, the expendables 3, Hercules