'Manchester By The Sea' Review

Oscar season is well and truly ahead and Kenneth Lonergan's latest film 'Manchester By The Sea' is tipped by many to do well with nominations. Casey Affleck has been getting a lot of buzz for his role in this movie, leading to speculate that he may pick up the Best Actor award come February. After seeing the movie, he'd be a safe bet to do so.

Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is a brooding, easily agitated loner who works in several Quincy apartment blocks as a handyman. One day at work, Lee is called to the hospital as his brother's heart has given out. Lee has to return to his hometown to take care of his 16-year-old nephew Patrick (Lucas Hedges). As he deals with his brother's death and taking care of his nephew, Lee is also forced to relive an unspeakable tragedy.

Casey Affleck delivers a career-best performance as he leads 'Manchester By The Sea' to greatness. Affleck is often overshadowed by bigger brother Ben but in 'Manchester', Casey shows that he is capable of equally as good a performance. Affleck plays Lee, an unsociable handyman who isn't afraid to speak his mind which gets him into trouble, especially if he's had a drink. Lee is a very conflicted and troubled character as he has to deal with his own problems that are shocking to see when they unfold. Affleck shows great range as there are plenty of emotional moments that allow him to shine but the character is also very quick witted and his honesty leads to some surprisingly funny moments.

As the film was released in America weeks before its UK release, you hear the verdict from their press and media first. Not only were the reviews overwhelmingly positive but the general consensus was that this was a very emotional film. If you had wondered into this film without seeing any trailers for the film, the start of the film wouldn't lead you to think this at all. The film is surprisingly funny throughout the whole film as the Chandler family all carry the same quick-wittedness. Between Affleck, Kyle Chandler and Lucas Hedges, the Bostonian family are all hilarious without really meaning to be, it's just who they are and this is conveyed perfectly by the performances. The film doesn't set up loads of jokes like a comedy would but you can be sure that you will be chuckling a lot during this film, which is very odd considering how serious and emotional it is at the same time.

As previously mentioned, the reports of the early releases of this film came back saying that it was very emotional and they weren't wrong. As the plot surrounds death and Lee's struggle with taking over the care of Lucas, we also see Lee's background in the form of flashbacks. This is where the emotional side kicks in as the story reveals a shocking, heartbreaking backstory which really makes you sympathise with Lee and his ex-wife Randi played by Michelle Williams. Affleck, to reiterate is phenomenal as he aims to gain his first Oscar. Williams as well is fantastic with one scene late on driving the emotional side home. Although Williams isn't in the film as much as the likes of Affleck and Hedges, she does more than enough to make a memorable and effective performance. A star seems to have been born in Lucas Hedges in a breakout role. He plays Patrick who has an abundance of talents and a seemingly good and exciting life. Hedges does well as the teenager who mainly likes to hide his emotions but when he lets loose, he really breaks down. Hedges excels at showing great range, handling both emotional and humorous scenes very well.

Kenneth Lonergan deserves huge credit for the success of this film. As both director and writer of this film, he was the creative driving force behind this film. The way Lonergan crafts a script that combines good humour and powerful, emotional scenes is something to marvel at, especially if you are a film student. Lonergan handles this film so incredibly well and is well worthy of an Academy Award nomination for both Screenplay and Director. Credit is also due to Cinematographer Jody Lee Jones who does a lot of great work in this film. Jones uses the working class environment of Manchester-By-The-Sea to great effect, as she makes the small town look beautiful. This wasn't something that I had seen much of in American film before as it felt quite British with the seaside towns. When you think of places by the water in America, it is usually with sunshine and beaches. This was a small but very appreciated aspect as it felt fairly fresh and close to home for me despite being across the pond. 'Manchester By The Sea' is a stunning, well-crafted film from start to almost the finish. The only real gripe with this film is its abrupt ending. This may be due to how invested the audience is into the film as you want to see more of the story but it just suddenly ends leaving you a bit bewildered for the time being. It doesn't completely round off the film that well which was the only real problem, otherwise, no complaints.

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'Manchester By The Sea'? If so, what did you think of the film? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the movie, which I highly recommend that you do so. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

'La La Land' Review

Sometimes a film gathers so much hype and praise that it simply doesn't reach expectations. This is most definitely not the case with 'La La Land'.

Mia (Emma Stone) is an aspiring actress who crosses paths with Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a struggling pianist who wants to open his own Jazz club. Living in Los Angeles, the two grow close together and have to make a choice between focussing on their love life or their biggest dreams.

We're only 4 films into the year but we may have the best film of the year decided already. Damien Chazelle brings yet another great movie based around music after his success with 2014's 'Whiplash' but he goes one step further this time by creating a full-scale musical. From the opening credits, Chazelle makes you feel as if you are watching a classic musical with the opening featuring how the film will be presented on screen. Although the film is set in the present day, you have that feeling of watching a classic. However, that is the case, just that it is a modern classic. You know the saying 'they don't make films like this anymore'?. 'La La Land' proves that this is not the case as it stands up there with the best of the best.

The film starts off with a beautiful one shot lasting over 5 minutes as the song 'Another Day Of Sun' plays out on a bridge with all those stuck in traffic participating. This was a very fun scene which also showcased Chazelle' skills as a very talented director. This opening scene was just a taster of what was to come throughout the rest of the film. 

To start off, 'La La Land' is a musical, a comedy and a drama all at the same time. Usually, when a film comes out that handles different genres, usually one overshadows the others. Not the case for 'La La Land' as all three play equally strong parts in this marvellous film.

It is no surprise to me that 'La La Land' picked up awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song (City Of Stars) at the Golden Globes and it would be a safe bet to back them for the Oscars too. The film is filled to the brim with great songs with composer Justin Hurwitz doing a great job creating catchy tunes and setting the mood perfectly. This is one of these films that you are going to be humming for weeks to come, especially the likes of 'Another Day Of Sun' and 'City Of Stars'. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone both lend their talents to the music in this film making it seem like there is nothing that these two can't do. This is backed up further once you see the pair dancing, with many different styles on showcase within the film. The musical side of this film really is perfect as the music, performances and choreography all come together to create some truly magical scenes. Chazelle is also able to work well with the backdrop of Hollywood in these scenes making the film look superb in the meantime.

'La La Land' also took home the award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, with Ryan Gosling winning Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy and Emma Stone doing likewise in the Actress category. The pair's chemistry works tremendously well in this film, especially in the comedy moments. The two play off of each other's reactions very well early on in the film as they are fairly cynical to one another as they first meet. This leads to one of the best scenes of the year as the pair looks for Stone's character Mia's car, where the two show their talents in comedy. As the film goes on, there are more jokes that are very cleverly crafted, more so than most comedies nowadays. Stone first burst onto the scene in comedies like 'Superbad', 'Zombieland' and 'Easy A' and that experience in the genre is evident here. Gosling as well shows his talents coming off of the criminally underseen 'The Nice Guys', where he continues to show that he is one of the best talents Hollywood has right now. The comedy combined with the upbeat music makes you have a constant smile on your face as you just want to see more of these characters interacting with one another as it is glorious.

As effective as the music and comedy aspects are within the film, 'La La Land' also delivers on the dramatic level. The story basically follows two young dreamers, Sebastian who wants to open a bar to play real Jazz and Mia who wants to become an actress. The film highlights the struggles of people following their dreams and shows that it's not an easy journey. More so on Mia's side, we see the characters doubt their dreams, even to the extent of possibly giving up on them. Sebastian also goes through tough moments as he lets his dreams slip by doing something that he doesn't particularly want to that also visibly changes his characteristics. This leads to the film showing the pair having to make a decision between going all out for their dreams or the love and companionship of each other for life. This is very complicated for the duo but that's life, especially in those industries. This brings the fun down a level as it gets serious with Stone and Gosling excelling, showing tremendous range in this film. The finale of this film is extremely well done, I won't spoil it for you but it is emotional and a great ending to a truly great film.

It is hard to believe that director Damien Chazelle is only 31 as he handles film like a veteran. Chazelle creates a truly beautiful film, setting up many shots that are breathtaking. Whether it's on the streets of California, movie sets or anywhere, the movie looks fantastic at all times. The camerawork and long takes are a pleasure to watch as Chazelle pulls them off to great effect. Again, his win at the Golden Globes was very much deserved. The film's beauty is also backed up by the beautiful set and costume designs in this film. The characters are sharply dresses which also brings back a classic feeling to the film as from start to finish, the film is gorgeous.

It's not very often that a film like this comes along. A film that is as equally exciting and entertaining as it is artistic. 'La La Land' is a modern classic and a film that we will look back on in awe. A truly special film that deserves every single bit of attention that it is getting. Expect to hear a lot about this film at the Oscars after it just broke the record for a number of wins at the Golden Globes.

 'La La Land' is a must see.

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'La La Land'? If so, what did you think of the film? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing this film which I cannot recommend highly enough. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

'A Monster Calls' Review

Adapting books is never an easy thing, especially with source material that brings out a wide range of emotion. J.A Bayona not only looks to do so with 'A Monster Calls', but succeeds, making one of the most emotional films of recent times.

12-year old Conor (Lewis MacDougall) is going through a tough time in his life, dealing with bullies and also with his mother's illness. To help deal with his problems, a tree-like monster (Liam Neeson) comes to Conor to tell him stories that will help Conor deal with the problems of life.

J.A Bayona cements himself as one of the best talents in Film right now with his magical, emotional film 'A Monster Calls'. Bayona adapts the novel in a very unique way, with real life and imagination intertwining with live action mixed with effects and even water colour art style animation. 'A Monster Calls' is a very unique film that showcases an abundance of creativity throughout many aspects. For one, the relationship between the monster and young Conor is done magnificently well, as the Groot combined with the BFG like creature helps Conor deal with issues in his life. The monster voiced by Liam Neeson tells Conor of fantastical stories with crafty witches and dragons as well as having themes of betrayal and things may not be what they seem to like. The monster helps Conor see that not everything is black and white, happy or sad and even good or bad. This leads to the emotional parts of the film very well. The film is gaining some buzz around award season and for good reason. J.A Bayona is deserving of high praise for this film as he combines so many aspects so incredibly well. This is a superbly directed film as Bayona showcases his talent very well. Fans of the 'Jurassic' franchise can very much look forward to the 'Jurassic World' as Bayona shows how he can use effects for a monster whilst creating an engaging, emotional and interesting story.

If you are one who is prone to tearing up at the cinema then make sure to bring your tissues. 'A Monster Calls' deals with some very serious issues, none more so than the illness of Conor's mother, played by Rogue One's Felicity Jones. It's truly heartbreaking at times as the emotion builds up throughout the film, climaxing to devastating effect. The performances help carry this, especially from Sigourney Weaver as the grandmother and Lewis MacDougall as her son Conor. MacDougall is great throughout the film, showing emotion at all the right times as he brings a very powerful performance. You feel for Conor throughout the whole film as we see everything through his eyes, with him struggling at school with bullies and at home with his family issues. Felicity Jones and Sigourney Weaver both provide great support in these emotional scenes too with their experience being very apparent. You feel a true relationship between Conor, his mother and grandmother, although it is conflicted at times. MacDougall does very well for someone so young with his facial expressions alone showcasing the character's emotions better than words could. The performance really helps make the movie as you need to feel the pain of the character to get the full effect. Thankfully, MacDougall brings a very strong performance to the table.

The film is visually stunning as it succeeds on a number of levels. In a fantastical film like this, sometimes the effects aren't up to standard and may look clunky. However, for the Monster, there can be no complaints. The Monster is intricately and beautifully designed and one of the best uses of CGI in recent times. Not only does the CGI look magnificent but the way the stories are told are too. The use of animation but through as if it was being painted using watercolours was breathtaking. This was so unique and could've easily failed as it may not have got the message across. However, the beautiful artwork combined with Neeson's narration created some fantastic scenes, unlike any other I had seen before. This is a visual masterpiece and it will be a huge surprise if this film doesn't gain some nominations at least for its Visual Effects.

'A Monster Calls' is a very magical yet heartbreaking tale. It's fantasy elements do bring a lot of enjoyment but this is a film that will most definitely pull on your heartstrings. This is a special film that deserves its buzz around award season and one that audiences worldwide should be checking out.

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'A Monster Calls'? If so, what did you think of the film? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the film or not. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

'Assassin's Creed' Review

When hearing of a video game movie coming out, the worst is expected. There is just something that doesn't transcend from the game to the big screen. This is sometimes due to budget's, poor casting and just not the right people behind the project. However, 'Assassin's Creed' reunites MacBeth director Justin Kurzel with Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, the two leads in said film. Due to this, many were optimistic as there was all the potential for there to finally be a good video game adaptation. Unfortunately, the wait goes on.

Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) is sentenced to death after committing murder. He is put to death but wakes up in a high-tech facility in Madrid, Spain. Lynch has been brought here to be a part of some revolutionary technology that unlocks genetic memories. Lynch is used to access the memories of Aguilar, a member of the Assassin's Creed in 15th Century Spain. As well as doing this, Callum will look to gather skills to help against the modern day Templar association.

Much like 'Silence' - the other New Years Day release- 'Assassin's Creed' is a fairly difficult watch. Unlike 'Silence', however, is that it is for completely different reasons and none of them being positive. 'Assassin's Creed' is a very disappointing and quite frankly, a terrible movie.

With a concept only comparable to the likes of 'Avatar', where a person is transferred into a body in some sort of way, 'Assassin's Creed' fails in explaining simply what is happening. This aspect is a huge part of the film as it is how the best parts of the film are made possible. For fans of the game, you are at an advantage as you already know how it works. The film seems to think as if everyone knows this already which is a big reason to why this failed. If you are building a new action series, you don't brush over key elements that are integral to the story. Due to this, it becomes unclear to what is actually happening. As we see Fassbender's Callum Lynch being hooked up to the machinery, we see the Spanish Inquisition and the assassin Aguilar. We also do see the machine moving Lynch around which gives off that it is the machine that is doing all the work. However, later on, there are elements that make it seem as if Lynch is doing the work in this machine himself. This is never settled and leaves you thinking what exactly is going on. In fact, this is the case in other stages within the film. You'll find yourself constantly wondering what on earth is going on throughout the film, whether it be from character's actions or the modern day Templar stuff. I call it Templar stuff as it's not fully explained and even worse, so boring that you don't care or bother about it.

For the most part, the parts of the film involving Aguilar within the Spanish Inquisition is done fairly well. There are some great action scenes and chases which show off some of the staple features in the video game series. The problem is, you don't care. There isn't any reason to care about the characters within this film as there aren't any characters. This transcends in both parts of the film which is baffling, how do you manage to get people to not care about characters played by Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard?. There's nobody who is particularly interesting or has something commanding about them in the entire film. The film just hopes that you will do so after seeing some cool action scenes but it doesn't work like that. There is no character building and worst of all, no reason to care about the main character. If you're looking to create a franchise, you have to make a likeable hero who the audience care, want to get behind and will come back to see again. Had the film not had Michael Fassbender in the leading role, it would've been a total disaster.

The cast in 'Assassin's Creed' was something to get behind from the start. Michael Fassbender is one of the top actors today, having done great work in the likes of 'X-Men', 'Macbeth' and 'Steve Jobs' in recent times. His co-star in 'Macbeth' and Academy Award Winner Marion Cotillard provides support yet again with Jeremy Irons and Brendan Gleeson doing so too. But the film doesn't take advantage of the talent in their grasp. All the actors are adequate in their roles but none of them are pushed at all. The film relegates the star power involved by simply not utilising it. The performances aren't the problem with this film as so many other aspects let it down.

Justin Kurzel struggles to even make 'Assassin's Creed' a beautiful looking film. One of the best things about the 'Assassin's Creed' games is being able to scale up the tallest buildings, where you can then look around the area and take a look at the breathtaking scenery. In some cases, yes, Kurzel does do a great job alongside cinematographer Adam Arkapaw, take the shot featuring Atletico Madrid's Vincente Calderon Stadium in the background as an example. Arkapaw clearly has the talent to create some great work and he would do so in this film. The rooftop chases allow Arkapaw to succeed as well as other moments involving the assassin's escaping. However, a decision was made to add a huge array of dust and light exposure into most scenes that looks to showcase some scenery. This just made everything look horrible and really took away from some of the good work that had been done. When you have some as talented as Arkapaw on board, you let him showcase the beautiful locations. Another part of the visuals that lets down in the use of CGI. Effects shouldn't be as noticeable in film's today, especially big budget films like this. Yet, in this film, there are occasions that not only is it noticeable but looks awful. The sight of the assassin diving from tall heights is associated heavily with the franchise as sort of a trademark manoeuvre. Seeing these moments should have been a thing of beauty, like how many fanboys mark out over seeing their favourite superheroes perform iconic moments. Instead, we get a far inferior look at these moments compared to the game as the effects don't match up well at all. A later example of this features Aguilar diving off of a bridge and as he is diving headfirst, he performs a forward roll in order for him to land. To simply put, it looked very cartoonish as the effects exposed this action from looking smooth at all. This was very poorly done which represents the entirety of this film very well.

There is a good 'Assassin's Creed' story within the source material. The idea of going back and changing events to benefit the world should work but only if done right. In this case, it wasn't done so at all, focussing on the mundane and not explaining things well enough. The action shows that there can be a great action franchise within 'Assassin's Creed' but there isn't a reason to care. This was a real missed opportunity for not only video game movies but action too.

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'Assassin's Creed'? If so, what did you think about it? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the film or not. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

'Silence' Review

2017 starts off with a movie from the legendary Martin Scorsese, you can't really complain about that. 'Silence' seems to take Scorsese away from his usual type of film as it looks trials within religion rather than within crime. As it is different subject matters, would Scorsese's magic transfer into 'Silence'?

Two Portuguese Priests Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Francisco (Adam Driver) look to travel to Japan in order to find their mentor Father Ferreira (Liam Neeson). Ferreira has apparently denounced his faith as he faced prosecution due to his association with the Christian faith. The pair now faces high danger in Japan as if they are caught by the Japanese, they will be imprisoned, tortured and possibly even killed. Their faith will be tested to the limit as the try to locate Ferreira.

The film year of 2017 starts off with a particularly hard watch. No, I'm not just talking about the 2 hour and 41-minute runtime but the subject matter and story of 'Silence'. Scorsese looks to explore how powerful faith is and how far it can truly drive people. The story focuses on how Christianity was pretty much banned and punishable by death during the time of Kakure Kirishitan, also known as 'The Hidden Christians'. This leads to some hard to watch scenes due to torture and also just how the story pans out. Scorsese doesn't hold back here, showing images of people being burned alive, crucified against waves and beheadings to name a few.

 The film is actually fairly frustrating as you see the priests struggle in Japan and you actually feel this in the audience. This happens particularly in the later stages of the film as it does seem to drag but remains effective at the same time. You, like the Christians, are frustrated by the lack of advancement in the priests quest due to this which is actually a very clever piece of filmmaking. This, however, does make it unlikely that you may rewatch this film as it is enough to sit through one time as it is. Although the film experience cannot be denied, as the film comes closer to the climax, you do feel the run-time start to take its toll. What comes with the frustration may even seem boring and disengaging to audiences as it seems to lose its tension and grip on the viewer. The ending isn't nearly as effective as the rest of the film and due to this, you want the film to start to wrap up. The bad thing about that is that there is still about half an hour to go in the film. 'Silence' most definitely isn't the most entertaining film but it's worth so much more than that. It is to carry this message of how strong faith can be, no matter how hard times are. 'Silence' is an experience, you go to be a part of the film and feel what the characters are going through.

Of course, faith is the main part of the story but Scorsese does not hold back at questioning the faith. The question of how God could allow this suffering under his watch is constantly on thought throughout the film, especially as the Japanese try to break the faith. We see characters denouncing their faith to save their lives with the basic question "Is the suffering worth it?" also being posed to those who have been held as prisoners. This does lead Scorsese to go a bit over the top with Garfield's character as he starts to resemble Christ more as the film goes on. This does seem most overdone once Garfield's character hallucinates and see's Christ in his own reflection.

Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver were strange castings in the role as the Portuguese Priests. For one, neither of them are Portuguese or even look remotely Portuguese, Driver in particular. Not only do the two not look the part but there are some inconsistencies within their accents that are distracting. Garfield is most noticeable as early on his character seems to over pronounce but it weaves in and out of the film throughout the runtime. Other than this both actors, do excel in their roles, showing the grief and hardship that they are going through whilst carrying out their mission. There was a particularly interesting dynamic within Driver's character being frustrated - see how that comes up yet again - but it never really seems to go anywhere. Instead, the main focus is on the fresh-faced Garfield who seems to have put the days of Spider-Man behind him and has become a very solid actor. Liam Neeson also features in this film but not as much as you'd maybe hope. Yoshi Oida, Yosuke Kubozuka and Issey Ogata lead the rest of the cast that brings a feeling as if you are in Japan. The use of the Japanese language is very effective throughout this, as well as using actors with thick accents as it sets up that authentic feeling. Kubozuka's character Kichijiro was a great addition the film as his actions made him unpredictable, bringing some humour at times which didn't feel out of place.

What Scorses does immensely within 'Silence' is created arguably his best-looking film to date. Shot entirely in Taiwan, Scorsese works alongside cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto to create some breathtaking shots. A wide range of long and overhead shots showcase the beauty of the set-up Japanese coastlines, mountains and villages, despite some of the horrible things that are going on. Prieto may very well be on track for another Academy Award nomination - with his last being over 10 years ago - as his work was of the highest standard. Scorsese's use of screen space works very well as well as his work in tight confines. The pair manages to make everything from the delightful scenery to the vilest of acts look marvellous. There is a high quality that oozes throughout the whole film as Scorsese has undoubtedly made one of the most visually appealing films of recent times.

'Silence' won't appeal to the casual filmgoer. Sure there is violence seen throughout the film but this isn't going to leave you particularly thrilled after the film. The slow pace will not appeal to the casual audience and may feel that the film doesn't do anything to keep the attention needed for it. However, Scorsese's message is undeniably effective throughout the film and although it may not be thoroughly entertaining, 'Silence' is a great experience.

Final Verdict = 

As 2017 has begun, I have decided to change my grading system. Instead of the academic style (A+, A, A-), I will now create an overall percentage based off of 10 points related to the film. Aspects like Entertainment, Performances, Story and Directing will always be taken into consideration and the rest of the 10 will be made up of aspects related to that genre or style of a film.

So have you seen 'Silence'? If so, what did you think of the film? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the movie! Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

Top 10 Worst Films of 2016!

Yesterday I posted my '15 Best Movies of 2016' list (check that out if you haven't already) as I celebrated the best that 2016 had to offer. However, 2016 was not completely great as there were many awful films that came out last year. In saying that, here are the 10 films that I really despised in 2016. These films are just awful and not worth your time at all. *SPOILER ALERT* There will be a lot of comedies on this list.

Before we got onto the list, we have some honourable mentions. There were many awful films this year but these are the ones that were lucky enough to just miss out on my list:

Inferno

Warcraft

Bad Moms

Why Him?

Alice: Through The Looking Glass

Ice Age: Collision Course

& The Angry Birds Movie

10. Keeping Up With The Joneses

With the cast that this film had, it should have at least been entertaining. Unfortunately, each of the four main cast members were phoning it in, in what was a very poor "action-comedy". The story was handled very poorly as an interesting concept was not used to its full capacity. The results of this was a very bland, boring film that nobody should ever see,

9. Collateral Beauty

A perfect example of how you can have all the talent in the world within your cast but if you have a terrible story and script, it will fall apart easily. This was the case with 'Collateral Beauty' that tried so hard to be an Oscar type movie, instead it became one of 2016's biggest jokes in film. Most of the performances don't do the film justice either as this one flopped big time. One of 2016's last films, 'Collateral Beauty' certainly isn't beautiful.

8. Independence Day: Resurgence

20 years after the original, 'Independence Day' finally got a sequel. Unfortunately, we wish we never got that sequel. 'Resurgence' lacked the character, impressive effects, great action and most importantly, the fun of the original. This was a depressing watch as this was one of the worst sequels in 2016. The cheek to try and set up a third film after this was laughable and hopefully we never get that film.

7. Rock The Kasbah

This film didn't get much advertising with not many people seeing it and that isn't really a surprise. Again, the cast within this film was very solid so the film should have at least been somewhat entertaining. Unfortunately, we got yet another terrible "comedy" that even Bill Murray could not save. A very dull film that failed on all levels, particularly the entertainment side.

6. Gods Of Egypt

Despite what director Alex Proyas wants you to think, 'Gods of Egypt' is a truly terrible film. Gerard Butler leads a terrible cast of non Egyptians in this CGI fest that looks awful. The CGI in this film looks incredibly bad that it is fairly embarassing. The story is dull and the action isn't exciting as 'Gods of Egypt' flopped. This attempt to create a larger than life epic could not have ended up worse than it did. It's hard to believe that there were 5 worse movies than this.

5. Zoolander 2

Well done 'Zoolander 2', you were the worst sequel of 2016! Boy, was this an absolutely atrocious film. Everything wrong with modern comedy was in this film, especially the over saturation of celebrity cameos. This film was so incredibly lazy that the return of previously funny characters couldn't gloss over it at all. Nobody asked for this sequel and the world would have been a better place without it. A shambolic comedic display from Ben Stiller.

4. Absolutely Fabulous

Maybe I shouldn't have went to see a film based off of a TV show I hadn't seen before but 'Absolutely Fabulous' was painfully bad. I was the only person in my screening for this film and I can see why. Yet another "comedy" failed to do anything remotely funny, as the awful characters talked nonsense and didn't do anything entertaining for the full film. It took everything I had to not walk out of the cinema with this one and looking back, I wish I did.

3. The Boss

Surprise surprise, it's another comedy! Looking back at the year, 2016 had some pretty awful comedies and you'll struggle to find many worse than 'The Boss'. Another terrible film in the inconsistent filmography of Melissa McCarthy which had Peter Dinklage providing one of the year's worst performances- that's how bad it is! Again, this film is simply not funny and the most enraging. There is plenty of talent in this film but it is so lazy that it was infuriating to watch. I remember being agitated whilst watching this as my mind completely rejected this terrible film.

2. Monster Trucks

Seperating these last two is probably the hardest decision I've had to make on this list but at number is 'Monster Trucks'. 'Monster Trucks' has one of the most stupid ideas for a film and that transcends into the film. The combination of pratical and CGI effects for the monsters work attrociously in this film as the cast bring some of the worst performances of the year. It baffles me to how this idea got turned into a movie. 2016 ended terribly as I saw this movie that somehow got a huge budget. The only thing that stops this from being the number 1 worst movie is that it had some so bad it's funny moments. Unlike my number 1.....

1. Nine Lives

Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey is turned into a cat. This film has Christopher Walken as some sort of pet shop, voodoo magician. This film is incredibly stupid, painfully unfunny and a real travesty of a film. There is literally nothing good about this film. The story is stupid, the performances are awful, the effects are awful, everything is just terrible. I want to know who greenlight this film as well as who was able to convince these talented actors to be in this film. This film should be used in torture camps as that is what it was like when watching Kevin Spacey provide the voice to the cat in this stupid movie. The biggest waste of time I've ever had in the cinema, 'Nine Lives' isn't just the worst film on 2016, it's one of the worst films of all time.

So that concludes my list of the worst movies in 2016. Lets hope that we don't get anything as bad in 2017, although that is probably inevitable. I now want to know what movies you thought really put a downer on 2016. 2016 was quite a mixed year with some great and terrible films. Here's hoping that 2017 can improve on that. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my blog, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

Top 15 Films of 2016!

The year is finally coming to an end and with that, critics, bloggers and movie fans have been posting their lists for their top movies of the year. As the year is now over, here is my own personal list of the top 15 movies of 2016. There were many films I could have put on this list as I seen 130 films this year at the cinema- of course not all were good but the worst list will come later. These are the top 20 films that have resonated most with me this year so either I've rated them highly, thoroughly enjoyed them or feel that they will stick with me for a long time. In some cases, they will cover more than one or all of those points. These films are based on what was released in the UK during 2016, so if you're looking for the likes of 'La La Land' or others, they aren't out here yet, unfortunately. So now let's get into my top 15 movies of 2016.

As everyone knows, making this list is extremely hard as there have been so many great films in 2016. Narrowing it down to 15 was very hard and meant that there were some films that just missed the cut. So with that in mind, here are some honourable mentions:

Eye In The Sky

The Nice Guys

Deepwater Horizon

Swiss Army Man

The Neon Demon

Moana

10 Cloverfield Lane

The Conjuring 2

& The Light Between Oceans

15. Deadpool

Starting off the list is Rated R superhero that surprised us all, Deadpool. When looking back at the year, nobody expected this film to be as good as it was. 2016 will be remembered as the year Rated R superhero films were born, whether that turns out to be a good thing or not. 'Deadpool' however was hilarious with great action scenes, as Ryan Reynolds made up for 'X-Men: Origins Wolverine'. The film was everything you wanted from it as its simple story worked very effectively.

14. Star Trek Beyond

Next up is the only blockbuster this summer that fully delivered. 'Beyond' was incredibly entertaining with great action scenes as the rebooted Star Trek franchise continues to grow. It is a real shame that this didn't make much money at the box office as this was the blockbuster that we needed when so many were failing us. The performances were all great especially Chris Pine and Sofia Boutella who really shined in this film. It's a real shame that we won't see Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov again as he will be sorely missed after his tragic passing.

13. The Witch

I went into 2016 as quite a sceptic when it came to horror films. After 2016, I have been transformed into quite a fan, with 'The Witch' being a big reason to why. 'The Witch' was a unique, slow burn, eery film that was very effective that really shocked me. I didn't expect to love this film as much as I did but the film is beautiful and extremely well acted. 'The Witch' is the best horror movie this year and one that you must check out.

12. Spotlight

The Oscar Best Picture winner comes in at number 12 for me as 'Spotlight' was fantastic. The story was very interesting but also very shocking due to the subject matter. The performances really help make this film and I am still not over the fact that Mark Ruffalo didn't win Best Supporting Actor for his efforts in this film. Not the most rewatchable film but powerful nonetheless and well worth your time.

11. Hunt For The Wilderpeople

Taika Waititi burst onto the scene in 2014 with 'What We Do In The Shadows'. Two years later, he has returned with yet another New Zealand comedy and to the same effect. 'Hunt For The Wilderpeople' is a delightful small comedy starring Sam Neill as a grumpy old man who has to look after an adopted child. The pair gets lost in the outback in New Zealand and the antics that ensue are achingly funny. One of the year's best comedies as this comedy was a real breath of fresh air.

10. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

If the year has a 'Star Wars' movie that I really enjoy, you can guarantee that it will be on my list for my top movies. 'Rogue One' brought us a new story and a new look at the Star Wars universe like never before as it focussed on the actual war between the Rebellion and The Empire. As far as third acts go, you'll struggle to find many better than 'Rogue One's. Had the film been as strong throughout the whole film, it probably would've been higher up. The film, though, was full of great moments that will have fans feeling like kids once again.

9. Zootropolis/Zootopia

Disney's 'Zootropolis' was my favourite animated movie of the year as the world inhabited by animals was highly entertaining as well as fairly deep. The characters were fun and enjoyable for kids and adults alike as Jason Bateman was a perfect casting as Nick Wilde. The film is so incredible as its world building is second to none with clever humour throughout the whole film. The film handles serious issues very well, giving equal enjoyment to adults as well as for younger children.

8. Arrival

Denis Villeneuve further cemented himself as one of Film's best talents with his great sci-fi 'Arrival'. The film isn't your typical alien invasion story but its approach to the genre is equally as effective. The film is very clever and will really make you think during the film and will leave its mark on you once you leave the theatre. A clever twist makes rewatching this film feel like something new as you see it from a different perspective and can pick up new things. Amy Adams is incredible in her role and should get plenty of recognition during award season. If you haven't done so already, make sure you give this film a watch.

7. Captain America: Civil War

In a year where superhero films felt very fatigued, Marvel continued to show how great they can be with 'Captain America: Civil War'. The film does a great job at moulding a story around the tension amongst the Avengers, pitting favourites Iron Man and Captain America against each other. Again, I'm a huge fan of this franchise which has made this resonate with me a lot more than some of these other films. The action in this is unmatched as 'Civil War' makes sure that all of its characters have their special moments, from Giant Man to the introduction of Spider-Man. Entertaining from start to finish, 'Civil War' fully delivered for me.

6. Nocturnal Animals

I'm surprised that this did not crack my top 5 but in at number 6 is Tom Ford's second film 'Nocturnal Animals'. This unique film handles two stories that intertwine very well, creating a very intriguing and emotional film. The performances in this film are incredible with Jake Gyllenhaal and Aaron Taylor-Johnson standing out. I really hope the pair are recognised at the Oscar's, especially for Taylor-Johnson. A very stylish film that has a very well crafted story, Tom Ford certainly did a great job in his return to film.

5. Creed

Going way back to the start of the UK cinema year for this one. 'Creed' continued the 'Rocky' legacy incredibly well as Michael B Jordon starred as Donny Creed. Sylvester Stallone brought one of his best performances to the table but this time as a trainer rather than as a competitor. 'Creed' is a great sports film that hits all the emotional spots whilst providing the best boxing footage ever in a film. Director Ryan Coogler and Michael B Jordan were unlucky to miss out on Oscar nominations for 'Creed' as this film showed how continuing a franchise can be done.

4. Hell Or High Water

This modern western film was one of the biggest surprises of the year for me. I'd heard great things about the film but I never expected it to be as good as it was. The film focuses on two bank robbers as well as on the Sherriff who is trying to catch them before he retires. The cast of Chris Pine, Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges is one of the best this year with all giving incredible performances that could all gain nominations during award season. The slow burn cat and mouse chase is very entertaining and tense at moments. An example of how the smaller films outshone the big budget films this year as 'Hell Or High Water' came out shortly after a very poor summer. 

3. The Edge Of Seventeen

You wouldn't have thought that we'd see a film like this ever again after John Hughes tragically passed away in 2009. However, newcomer Kelly Fremon Craig burst onto the scene with 'The Edge of Seventeen' which she both directed and wrote. This modern coming of age film related with me so much which was very surprising considering it is about a 17-year-old girl. This had great humour, performances and emotional moments as this instantly became one of my favourite movies of the year. Hailee Steinfeld and Woody Harrelson are excellent in this great movie that will stick with me for many years to come.

2. Room

I caught 'Room' on the last day that it was in UK cinemas and I am so glad that I did. I have never had such an emotional experience watching a film in the cinema before. This film had me hooked from start to finish in this emotional rollercoaster of a movie. Brie Larson fully deserved her Oscar for her performance and Jacob Tremblay is one to look out for in the future. An extremely powerful film that deserves a lot more recognition. This film will definitely affect you when watching this, a truly fantastic piece of film.

1. Sing Street

When I saw the trailer for 'Sing Street', I really didn't expect much. After I saw the film, I was in love with it. I was stunned by how good this small Irish film was. The film is perfect as it is charming, funny, emotional with a great message. The music is also phenomenal as this talented cast produced great original work as well as great hits from the past. 'Sing Street' is the most fun I have had the cinema this year and is what I'll remember 2016 for. The perfect feel good film that I will rewatch for years to come. 'Sing Street' is the reason why I go to the cinema and I urge you to see this one if you haven't done so yet. I haven't recommended a film more this year as I truly loved 'Sing Street'. Due to this, 'Sing Street' is undoubtedly my top film of 2016!

So that rounds up my list of the top 15 films of 2016! I now want to know what films made your list! Make sure to come back for my Top 10 list of the Worst films in 2016, that will be a fun one. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my blog, it is much appreciated. And all the best for 2017!

By Angus McGregor