LAKE REGION READER
January 13, 2017
Page 7
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Movie Review: The best and worst of 2016
Lucas Allen The best films of 2016 2016 has its place in the history books for all the wrong reasons. However, there’s always a shining light in the darkness. Namely, some of the best and most entertaining films we’ve been delighted to see on the big screen. Here are 10 great examples of escapist fun, excitement and drama that helped us get out of our comfort zones and into the amazing. 10. “Finding Dory” Pixar usually sticks to its successful formula whether for originals or sequels. In this case, here we have a sequel that’s not only as good as the original but also reminds us why the Disney-owned animation studio keeps flying high. With more of an emphasis on Ellen DeGeneres’ lovable but forgetful blue fish, there’s more heart and humor scattered throughout that adds an emotional experience for both kids and adults. 9. “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” It’s no doubt the Star Wars saga is back and just as magical as the day George Lucas’ space opera began about 40 years ago. “Rogue One” sets up that beginning brilliantly without resorting to just making the same movie. The main characters are different, and the story is bleaker than “The Empire Strikes Back,” but all the elements are there and that’s all that matters. In fact, this would make a great double feature with “A New Hope” on its own or together with the other films like the serials that inspired the series. 8. “Arrival” Director Denis Villeneuve took the cliché alien invasion plot line from the 1950s and added a whole new spin thanks to its intelligent script and nonlinear storytelling. Amy
Adams delivered a topnotch performance as both a scientist and a mother stuck between two worlds including the world inside an alien spaceship. Along with some cool alien effects to boot, it’s a movie that can entertain you and also make you think about the possibility of worlds beyond our own. 7. “Suicide Squad” While “Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice” didn’t make the list, it still has enough good moments including the introduction of Ben Affleck’s Batman that made it more worthwhile than what other critics have said. But with this movie, it broke the DC Universe mold and created a lighter tone in the vein of the Marvel movies. Will Smith and Margot Robbie are certainly memorable while Jared Leto made a pretty good impression as The Joker though it’ll likely take some time for the public to get used to. 6. “Doctor Strange” As one of the best of the Marvel movies, it’s certainly the most mindblowing with or without the 3D. Benedict Cumberbatch follows the Robert Downey Jr./Tony Stark approach in his own special way as the title character who also has to put aside his ego to become a mystical hero. The action scenes, however, are much more than you normally expect, reaching “Inception” levels of trippy. It’s more than a superhero movie; it’s an out-of-theordinary experience that’s unforgettable. 5. “Star Trek Beyond” The Kelvin time line gets better and better in director Justin Lin’s third installment of J.J. Abrams’ rebooted franchise. Not only did it feel more like the big screen version of a classic episode of the original ‘60s series, but it offers a lot for fans and non-fans alike. Not only is it actionpacked and a lot of fun, but it also delivers an emotional goodbye to both series veteran Leonard Nimoy and young Chekov (played by Anton Yelchin, who died in an auto accident). 4. “Deepwater Horizon” The story of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill is really well told in director
Peter Berg’s hard-hitting action/drama. With all the explosive action on display, the movie never loses the humanity in the story, represented by Mark Wahlberg and supporting cast. Berg and Wahlberg had just come out with “Patriots Day” and looking quite similar to their earlier film, it gets an honorable mention.
and hard-hitting drama. Besides the memorable airport fight scene where all the good guys battled each other, the story is filled with different layers that that gives it an epic feel without feeling overlong. It’ll be exciting to see where our favorite heroes go next, but this remains the biggest turning point in this whole universe.
3. “Sully”
If you had yet to see these titles, then you’re missing out on what the best of 2016 can offer. As 2017 rolls around, we can expect all-new excitement coming our way.
Tom Hanks anchors a commanding performance in director Clint Eastwood’s dramatic and riveting retelling of the Miracle on the Hudson and its aftermath. It’s not just about the heroism, but also about the people who experienced a near-death experience and lived to tell about it. This movie proves that heroes don’t usually wear capes and have superpowers, but still have the courage and bravery to do the right thing. 2. “Hacksaw Ridge” Mel Gibson directs this World War II drama with greater intentions than his earlier efforts. With strong performances by Andrew Garfield and Hugo Weaving, the movie combines war and faith in a way that makes this movie the most humanistic since “Saving Private Ryan.” It also has enough bloody action that should make modern war film fans really satisfied. It’s a movie full of emotion and raw power that should not be overlooked. 1. “Captain America: Civil War” Marvel Studios is the best place where superhero films become quality cinema. But this film could be the absolute best of all the movies in terms of combining superhero action
The worst films of 2016 It’s easy to consider 2016 as the worst year of our generation with all the bad that happened all over the world. Here are five titles that are only small dents in this otherwise miserable year. They aren’t the all-time worst films ever made, but more like lessons Hollywood should take to heart about trying to impress their audience. 5. “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” This was the movie that killed both a franchise and any desire for more YA movies. Though still a bit better than “Insurgent,” which ultimately destroyed all potential for this series, this movie still suffers from the same issues including tone and everything else disinteresting. Despite a game cast, nothing about this movie made us care all that much. It’s rumored that the last film in the series “Ascendant” will be produced as a TV movie to set it up as a possible TV series, but it’s doubtful if anybody still cares about this already dead series.
4. “Dirty Grandpa” You may give Robert De Niro credit for trying different types of comedy in his highly prolific career, but after this he should not do any more gross-out comedies. This is a really annoying comedy that tries to pass off fart jokes and drug humor as actual comedy. It’s not helped by its mixed bag of a cast including another awful performance by Julianne Hough. As for Zac Efron, he should really rethink his priorities in his acting career, including hiring a new agent. 3. “Warcraft” It’s easy to trash video game movies for not living up to their full potential. But when you have a game series that not many people play or obsess over and make a faithful adaptation, you make it a lot less accessible to non-gamers than the worst of Resident Evil and it becomes a chore to watch. Maybe taking a couple of liberties would’ve made it a little better, but then it could still make everyone stay home and watch “The Lord of the Rings.” If it ever does get a sequel after its huge success in China, get a different director and rework the story for the general audience. 2. “Ben-Hur” (2016) Toby Kebbell has to be the unluckiest actor in Hollywood right now. First, he played a very different Doctor Doom in Josh Trank’s catastrophic “Fantastic Four,” and now he ends up in two movies that makes this list. At least in “Warcraft” he’s able to hide that shame on his face with motion capture, but there’s no hiding all the shame in this film. It’s an
unnecessary remake of a much better 1959 film and an example of why some modern filmmakers don’t get the appeal of grandeur epics. At least some good came out of 2016 for Kebbell when he won acclaim for his supporting role in “A Monster Calls,” so maybe there’s hope for him if he can stick to better projects like that. 1. “Gods of Egypt” No other movie in 2016 displayed so much wrong that’s insulting to the intelligent viewer than this big-budget Biblical epic covered in white paint. Seriously, you have white actors playing Egyptians much like in the similarly terrible “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” but then you add all new levels of “What the Fudge” to this glossy mess. Bad acting, terrible CGI and a very inept story that managed to make science throw up in its mouth. Who still believes in the flat Earth theory nowadays? Not even Gerard Butler’s entertaining performance as evil King Leonidas could save this travesty that needs to be buried in the sands of Egypt. Now that we’ve wiped our hands clean of 2016, let’s see if 2017 can do any better. You’ll never know what bad film can come our way, but the best advice is be prepared. n
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