Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Daniel's top 5 favorite movies of 2016

2017 is approaching us rapidly, can you hear the echoes of its footsteps? As we are counting down to welcome a new year, I wish to share a list for my favorite movies of 2016. This year, I visited the cinema more frequently than in 2015, because I received a pile of free movie tickets from work. Due to the busyness of life, however, I was unable to write a review for every movie I have seen this year. Therefore, 4 days before Mr. Calendar opens the floodgate to New Year celebration, I sat down, and picked 5 movies to compile a list for my favorite movies in 2016. I recommend these 5 movies to you (if you haven't seen them already).

Of course, this list is highly subjective. These 5 movies may not be the most artistic films, or even the best films. No, these 5 movies are my personal favorites of 2016 and I think they are worth watching (and they are also re-watchable).

Without further delay, please allow me to present my list to you.

Number 5:

The Jungle Book

I didn't see The Jungle Book in the cinema. Instead, I watched this remake in the magical format of a 3D Blu Ray, at home. I loved every second of this movie and the 3D effect was breathtaking! Now, you might think this movie is for young children because of.... talking animals? Well, the talking animals are the best thing about The Jungle Book; the voice acting was top notch, and these characters are very likable. Overall, The Jungle Book is a fun and entertaining movie. What was my favorite scene in this film? It was the iconic moment, when the bear and Mowgli sang “Bare Necessity”. I was singing along very happily and I know you would have loved to sing along Mowgli and his fluffy bear friend, too.










Number 4:

Deepwater Horizon

A disaster movie – checked
A movie based on a true story – checked
A movie that keeps you at the edge of your seat – checked
A movie with a good moral message - checked

Starring Mark Wahlberg and based on a true event, Deepwater Horizon narrates the story about the WORST oil spill in US waters, ever! What caused it? Watch this movie and see for yourself. The visuals in Deepwater Horizon were both gripping and explosive, and it created a very immersive cinematic experience. This is a disaster movie, but unlike most Hollywood disaster movies, Deepwater Horizon delivers a heavy impact on its audience because it is based on a true story – a story about the best and the worst of the human nature.





Number 3:

Kubo and the Two Strings:

The studio, Laika, created a masterpiece in Kubo and the Two Strings. This stop-motion movie, hand-crafted, narrates a tale of epic fantasy set in medieval Japan. I was very impressed by the level of details and the artistic designs that went into the making of this film. It suffices to say, Kubo and the Two Strings is a labor of love. The story in Kubo and the Two Strings can be a little dark, and at times, melancholic and tragic, but I appreciated its themes about mortality and family values. This movie lingered on my mind for days after I left the cinema. It was a really good movie, and the soundtracks were delightful to the ear too! This movie has been released for home media, and I have purchased a 3D Blu Ray set. After viewing this film for the 2nd time, I became even more fond of it, because I discovered a few little things I missed out at the 1st time.


Number 2:

Arrival

Hollywood made (and will make) a lot of cheesy popcorn flicks about fighting evil aliens. But every now and then, they do make intelligent sci-fi movies, where the theme focuses on discovering ourselves through a story about aliens. So here we have it. Starring Amy Adams, Arrival takes the number 2 position on my list of favorites movies in 2016. There is a good reason why I am rating this movie so highly. Let me put it this way, Arrival is the most thought-provoking sci-fi movie I have seen this year. On the surface, the premise in Arrival posits the question: If we come into contact with an intelligent alien species, how will we communicate with them? However, on a deeper level, the story in Arrival really is about communication and language; not with aliens, but more about ourselves. If you like sci-fi movies, metaphor, and the history of the human language, then make sure to check out Arrival.






Number 1:

Love and Friendship

Here it is, my number 1 movie of 2016 is Love and Friendship. I think it is a shame this period comedy didn't receive more publicity. How did I discover this movie? By accident, I came across a few review videos on Youtube for Love and Friendship. Now, I am very fond of movie adaptations of Jane Austen novels, and my favorite actress is Kate Beckinsale. Upon discovering that this movie is adapted from a Jane Austen novella, Lady Susan, who is starred by Kate Beckinsale, I immediately added this film to my “must watch” list. When I finally watched Love and Friendship, this 90 minutes feature film delighted me with every second of its screen time! This movie satirizes the mannerism in high society, and the dialogues were hilarious! I grinned and laughed throughout the entire film. The acting in this vibrant movie was top notch. But Kate Beckinsale's acting was particularly outstanding. From the way she spoke, to the way she acted, Kate Beckinsale portrayed Lady Susan so vividly, and it was a truly stunning performance. I want to watch Love and Friendship again, because I think viewing this movie multiple times can bring one to appreciate it even more. Indeed, with superb acting and hilarious dialogues, Love and Friendship seizes the top spot on my list of favorite movies in 2016.




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