Just like that and half the year is over!
What kind of year has it been in the movie world? The first half of 2014 has blessed us with an array of movies but, of course, not all of them were worth watching nor remembering. Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s The LEGO Movie set the bar way up high making it a struggle for summer blockbusters to surpass it on the box office charts.
Since the weekend is here, I decided that today would be a brilliant day to rejudge and to list out the best movies I have watched in theatres so far in 2014. Here’s a list of movies that I found to be the best of the year, so far.
7. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Unlike The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which I honestly was not a fan off, Captain America: The Winter Soldier kicked off the party for action hero movies. Apart from catching up to speed with our modern ways, Steve Rogers aka Captain America also deals with a threat that matches him in strength and energy in this sequel. Worth the watch, Captain America: The Winter Soldier has a storyline that will make viewers think, a storyline embracing a 1970’s political frolic that picks our brains while we enjoy the film and of course the yumminess of Chris Evans.
The bond between Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless, is further strengthen in the DreamWorks Animation sequel to the 2010 film How To Train Your Dragon. Tapping into the emotional side of fans with a heartwarming family reunion, How To Train Your Dragon 2 also ingeniously creates a vibrant fantasy world that brings out the urge to explore in it’s audience. Sticking true to its integrity, How To Train Your Dragon 2 is the perfect dish of what a franchise is supposed to be like.
Sci-fi at its best, Edge of Tomorrow, directed by Doug Liman is in one word — mindf*cking. Offering a lot more than just an A-list star and massive explosions, the film set during a world war against an alien invasion was a pleasant surprise as it offered a fulfilling story filled with epic actions scenes, laughs and the perfect dose of alien mayhem.
A heart wrenching tale about Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley), a 17-year-old cancer patient who meets 18-year-old Augustus Waters aka Gus (Ansel Elgort) who is equally as ill, The Fault in Our Stars beautiful, heart-breaking and was brilliantly executed. Unlike other cancer-based films, director Josh Boone dodges the typical cliché pitfalls with natural warmth and humour making The Fault in Our Stars a must watch film.
This film is definitely redemption for the disaster that is of X-Men: The Last Stand. Director Bryan Singer presents all X-Men fans with a confident film consisting of superb visuals and solid tempo. From the storyline to the casting to the action scenes, Singer’s attention to detail in X-Men: Days of Future Past definitely sets the bar for superhero films.
Luckily for us (and for all of you too!), the next instalment is already in the works.
2. The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Grand Budapest Hotel is a must see. Not only for the spectacular performance by Ralph Fiennes but also because the film brings something new with each repeat viewing. Apart from Fiennes’ dry and pompous portrayal of Gustave in the film alongside Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) and Herman Blume, The Grand Budapest Hotel also offers a depth and complexity to each character making it a film that viewers would want to watch over and over again.
The LEGO Movie appeals to everyone from all walks of life as there is just something so fascinating about LEGO building blocks. Used by both kids and adults, LEGOs are toys that just fit and click together in plenty of ways allowing for anyone’s imagination to come to life in the form of lego buildings. The LEGO Movie captures an intense sense of nostalgia that brings back memories and the inner child in its viewers. Hitting close to home, the film is sweet, funny and no short of awesome! We can’t wait for part 2 of the film already!
Let us know which film gets your vote for best-of-the-year in the comment box below.
