THE LIST (2019 Update)

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Lists

Behold, the fifth iteration of my own private compulsion, THE LIST, featuring my top 365 favorite films. My 5th blogiversary post yesterday detailed the latest additions and drop-outs, but I’ve put the newest insertions in bold so they’ll stand out more.

Last year’s additions didn’t leave much of an impression on the top 200, instead clustering in the bottom third, but it seems to me that the higher rankings of the most recent films added should give you an idea of just how much I loved them. Even so, the Top 100 remains pretty solid, with only four additions, three of which are being grouped with films that were already there. (Again, Dead Men Tell No Tales is mainly on here because it continues the original Pirates trilogy).

Perhaps because I haven’t had a lot of time to revise, the rankings of existing films haven’t been touched much (Your Name went up; Out of Africa went down, but no major shakeups). Seven additions are being grouped with their respective franchises, and I’ll admit to cheating with a tie here and there when faced with two very similar and closely ranked films (e.g., A Quiet Place with Hidden, April and the Extraordinary World with Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow). And once again, I just couldn’t bring myself to knock off Psycho, even though it’s been at #365 for the last two years, so I moved it up a little for good measure.

Without further ado, I present my Top 365 Movie List, all of them true favorites.  The rankings are all based on my personal tastes and opinions and could easily change with time. I’d love to hear your thoughts, opinions, and/or recommendations! After finding new favorites in unlikely places in 2018, who knows what might find its way on here a year from now? A very happy 2019 to all!

 

1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003)
2. Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)
3. Forrest Gump (1994)
4. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
5. The Sound of Music (1965)
6. Star Wars Trilogy (1977, 1980, 1983)
7. Finding Nemo (2003) and Finding Dory (2016)
8. Titanic (1997)
9. Toy Story Trilogy (1995, 1999, 2010)
10. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
11. The Princess Bride (1987)
12. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
13. Groundhog Day (1993)
14. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
15. The Prince of Egypt (1998)
16. You’ve Got Mail (1998)
17. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
18. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
19. War Horse (2011)
20. The Incredibles (2004) and The Incredibles 2 (2018)
21. Cast Away (2000)
22. Heart and Souls (1993)
23. Pirates of the Caribbean (2003, 2006, 2007) and Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)
24. Tarzan (1999)
25. Les Miserables (2012)
26. The Avengers (2012), Captain America: Civil War (2016), and Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
27. Ben-Hur (1959)
28. Star Trek (2009)
29. The Chronicles of Narnia (2005, 2008, 2010)
30. The Family Man (2000)
31. The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001)
32. Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
33. Oliver! (1968)
34. Whisper of the Heart (1995)
35. Spider-Man Trilogy (2002, 2004, 2007)
36. The Five People You Meet in Heaven (2004)
37. Elizabethtown (2005)
38. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
39. Chariots of Fire (1981)
40. Babe (1995)
41. The Blues Brothers (1980)
42. Jurassic Park (1993)
43. 84 Charing Cross Road (1987)
44. National Treasure (2004)
45. Ratatouille (2007)
46. The Fugitive (1993)
47. True Grit (1969, 2010)
48. Evita (1996)
49. The Lion King (1994)
50. Inception (2010)
51. When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
52. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017)
53. Lilies of the Field (1963)
54. Life of Pi (2012)
55. Mary Poppins (1964)
56. Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
57. Glory (1989)
58. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
59. The Sixth Sense (1999)
60. Back to the Future Trilogy (1985, 1989, 1990)
61. Aliens (1986)
62. Life Is Beautiful (1997)
63. Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
64. The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
65. Awakenings (1990)
66. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
67. Paulie (1998)
68. Home Alone (1990)
69. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
70. Big (1988)
71. Jumanji (1995)
72. Somewhere in Time (1980)
73. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
74. A Christmas Story (1983)
75. Speed (1994)
76. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
77. 1776 (1972)
78. High School Musical Trilogy (2006, 2007, 2008)
79. Wit (2001)
80. Serenity (2005)
81. Miracle on 34^th Street (1947)
82. Gone with the Wind (1939)
83. Aladdin (1992)
84. The Greatest Showman (2017)
85. Saints and Soldiers (2003)
86. La La Land (2016)
87. Fantasia (1940)
88. Shadowlands (1993)
89. Hook (1991)
90. Young Frankenstein (1974)
91. The Truman Show (1998)
92. The Ten Commandments (1956)
93. Star Wars Prequel Trilogy (1999, 2002, 2005)
94. October Sky (1999)
95. Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
96. Holes (2003)
97. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
98. The Martian (2015)
99. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
100. About Time (2013)
101. Taking Chance (2009)
102. Star Trek into Darkness (2013) and Star Trek Beyond (2016)
103. Signs (2002)
104. The Blind Side (2009)
105. Star Trek: Generations (1994)
106. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
107. The Santa Clause (1994)
108. Starman (1984)
109. My Fair Lady (1964)
110. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
111. Train to Busan (2016)
112. On Golden Pond (1981)
113. Brother Bear (2003)
114. WALL-E (2008)
115. The Green Mile (1999)
116. Air Force One (1997)
117. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2013)
118. Shrek 2 (2004)
119. Big Hero 6 (2014)
120. Iron Man Trilogy (2008, 2010, 2013)
121. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
122. The Matrix (1999)
123. Ghostbusters II (1989)
124. The Right Stuff (1983)
125. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
126. Shuffle (2011)
127. The Mask of Zorro (1998) and The Legend of Zorro (2005)
128. The Color Purple (1985)
129. Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
130. Ready Player One (2018)
131. Shrek (2001)
132. Inside Out (2015)
133. The King’s Speech (2010)
134. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
135. The Hunger Games series (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
136. Yentl (1983)
137. Men in Black Trilogy (1997, 2002, 2012)
138. Skyfall (2012)
139. The Music Man (1962)
140. Ghostbusters (1984)
141. Regarding Henry (1991)
142. Alien (1979)
143. National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)
144. The Polar Express (2004)
145. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
146. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
147. Julie and Julia (2009)
148. Airplane! (1980)
149. Darkest Hour (2017)
150. Extraordinary Measures (2010)
151. Secondhand Lions (2003)
152. A Christmas Carol
153. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
154. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
155. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
156. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
157. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
158. United 93 (2006)
159. The Little Mermaid (1989)
160. Die Hard trilogy (1988, 1990, 1995)
161. Castle in the Sky (1986)
162. Source Code (2011)
163. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
164. Planet of the Apes Trilogy (2011, 2014, 2017)
165. Overboard (1987)
166. Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980)
167. The Nativity Story (2006)
168. Cinderella (1950) / Cinderella (2015)
169. A League of Their Own (1992)
170. The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971)
171. Tangled (2010)
172. Zootopia (2016)
173. The Untouchables (1987)
174. As Good As It Gets (1997)
175. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)
176. Ella Enchanted (2004)
177. Splash (1984)
178. Monsters, Inc. (2001) and Monsters University (2013)
179. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
180. The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974)
181. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
182. Enchanted (2007)
183. Up (2009)
184. Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011)
185. What’s Up, Doc? (1972)
186. Ant-Man (2015) and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
187. Wolf Children (2012)
188. Pocahontas (1995)
189. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
190. Rudy (1993)
191. Mulan (1998)
192. Your Name (2016)
193. Hidden Figures (2016)
194. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
195. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Vol. 2 (2017)
196. Labyrinth of Lies (2014)
197. Treasure Planet (2002)
198. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (2018)
199. Mission: Impossible III (2006), Ghost Protocol (2011), Rogue Nation (2015), and Fallout (2018)
200. The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005, 2008, 2012)
201. Les Miserables (1998)
202. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
203. Spaceballs (1987)
204. King of Thorn (2010)
205. The Way (2010)
206. The Prestige (2006)
207. Déjà Vu (2006)
208. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)
209. Cars (2006) and Cars 3 (2017)
210. Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
211. Doc Hollywood (1991)
212. Foul Play (1978)
213. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
214. Frozen (2013)
215. Woman in Gold (2015)
216. Twister (1996)
217. Coco (2017)
218. Funny Girl (1968)
219. Rocky (1976), Rocky II (1979), Rocky III (1982), Rocky IV (1985), and Creed (2015)
220. Hello, Dolly! (1969)
221. Joyeux Noël (2005)
222. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
223. To Sir, with Love (1967)
224. April and the Extraordinary World (2015) / Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
225. Out of Africa (1985)
226. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
227. The Hobbit Trilogy (2012, 2013, 2014)
228. Adventures in Babysitting (1987)
229. Hoosiers (1986)
230. Gravity (2013)
231. The Great Escape (1963)
232. The Naked Gun (1988)
233. Jumpin’ Jack Flash (1986)
234. Soul Man (1986)
235. Philadelphia (1993)
236. Raising Arizona (1987)
237. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
238. Ghost (1990)
239. Misery (1990)
240. Captain Phillips (2013)
241. School of Rock (2003)
242. Something the Lord Made (2004)
243. Vantage Point (2008)
244. Peter Pan (1953)
245. The Terminal (2004)
246. Superman (1978)
247. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
248. Jane Eyre (1970)
249. Casablanca (1942)
250. Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2^nd Dimension (2011)
251. The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
252. The Girl Who Leapt through Time (2006)
253. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) and Waterworld (1995)
254. Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum of Solace (2008)
255. Annie (1999)
256. The Elephant Man (1980)
257. Cloud Atlas (2012)
258. Anastasia (1997)
259. X-Men (2000) and X2: X-Men United (2003)
260. Surrogates (2009)
261. Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
262. WarGames (1983)
263. My Girl (1991)
264. Chronesthesia (or Love and Time Travel) (2016)
265. The Ultimate Gift (2006)
266. The Way Back (2010)
267. Memphis Belle (1990)
268. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
269. Dances with Wolves (1990)
270. The Judge (2014)
271. The Terminator (1984)
272. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
273. The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
274. Rain Man (1988) and Dominick and Eugene (1988)
275. Pinocchio (1940)
276. City Slickers (1991)
277. The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014)
278. Patema Inverted (2013)
279. Forget Paris (1995)
280. Eddie the Eagle (2016)
281. A Silent Voice (2016) / Hear Me (2009)
282. Doctor Strange (2016)
283. Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
284. Dunkirk (2017)
285. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
286. Superman II (1980)
287. Murphy’s Romance (1985)
288. Shenandoah (1965)
289. The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)
290. The Red Violin (1999)
291. Arrival (2016)
292. Bridge of Spies (2015)
293. Hidden (2015) and A Quiet Place (2018)
294. A View to a Kill (1985) along with most other Bond films I’ve seen, including Spectre (2015)
295. Wonder Woman (2017)
296. Con Air (1997)
297. The River Wild (1994)
298. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
299. Finding Forrester (2000)
300. Unbreakable (2000)
301. Starter for 10 (2006)
302. Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)
303. The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
304. Wayne’s World (1992)
305. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
306. The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (2010)
307. Steel Magnolias (1989)
308. Searching (2018)
309. Have a Little Faith (2011)
310. Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
311. Music and Lyrics (2007)
312. Sister Act (1992)
313. The Abyss (1989)
314. The Breakfast Club (1985)
315. Lady and the Tramp (1955)
316. Places in the Heart (1984)
317. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
318. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)
319. In Time (2011)
320. Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), and Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
321. Minority Report (2002)
322. Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
323. Scrooged (1988)
324. A Monster Calls (2016)
325. Wuthering Heights (1970)
326. Coma (1978)
327. The Peanuts Movie (2015)
328. Trading Places (1983)
329. Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
330. Remember the Titans (2000)
331. The Brave Little Toaster (1987)
332. Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
333. Sheffey (1977)
334. Seven Samurai (1954)
335. Citizen Kane (1941)
336. The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
337. Galaxy Quest (1999)
338. Serendipity (2001)
339. The Others (2001)
340. Joseph: King of Dreams (2000)
341. Baby Boom (1987)
342. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2003)
343. The Conjuring (2013) and The Conjuring 2 (2016)
344. Amazing Grace (2006)
345. The Wind Rises (2013)
346. Lion (2016)
347. Ordinary People (1980) and Rabbit Hole (2010)
348. The Last Days (or Los Ultimos Días) (2013)
349. Cloak and Dagger (1984)
350. Chicken Run (2000)
351. Sneakers (1992)
352. The Fault in Our Stars (2014) and Paper Towns (2015)
353. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)
354. Hercules (1997)
355. Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Beginnings and Eternal (2012)
356. Silverado (1985)
357. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
358. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
359. Dave (1993)
360. Psycho (1960)
361. War of the Worlds (2005)
362. A Bug’s Life (1998)
363. Harrison Bergeron (1995)
364. Time of Eve (2010)
365. The Quick and the Dead (1987)

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My 5th Blogiversary and 2018 List Additions

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Lists

It’s hard to believe, but a whole other year has passed, and I find myself once again celebrating a Blogiversary. Has it really been five years since I started my original top 365 movie countdown?! It doesn’t feel like that long, but perhaps that just means I’m having fun. That must be it, because 2018 has been an especially good year for movie-watching, and as with every blogiversary before, it’s time to recap all the high points of the past year with (what else?) a Top Twelve List of the movies worthy of joining my Top 365 List!

Since I now have five years of movie-blogging under my belt, I’ve had to become more choosy with what I christen as List-Worthy, which means only 25 films earned that distinction this year, the least of any year thus far. That’s not to say I haven’t seen many more great films than that, such as Black Panther, Boyhood, Yi Yi, In This Corner of the World, Tombstone, Marjorie Prime, 50 First Dates, Sunshine, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Next Gen, The Sandlot, Still Mine, and Only the Brave, but for whatever reason, they fell just a tad short.

Yet, while last year’s 35 additions were mainly in the latter half of the list, this year’s favorites climb a little higher. I, of course, liked my Top Twelve from last year, but this year’s additions have some new films I truly loved. As usual, several of them are from me playing catch-up on 2017’s releases, but even more are from 2018, and I couldn’t help but notice that none of the additions are from the 20^th century. Hmm, I’ve got to fix that next year and see more older films.

As always, this is my personal opinion, and everyone is free to agree or disagree. I welcome any comments or recommendations, and I look forward to finding more movies worth loving next year.

Anyhoo, let’s get to the list itself and reminisce on the cinematic rollercoaster that was 2018.

 

12. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

As much as I enjoyed this second Ant-Man movie, I’m surprised it ended up as low as #12. After Infinity War’s epic doom and gloom, the MCU needed a little levity, and Ant-Man and the Wasp delivered an all-around fun thrill ride with one of the more satisfying endings in the franchise, at least until the after-credits scene. Luis saying “Whazzup!” still cracks me up.

 

11. April and the Extraordinary World (2015)

This is only the first awesome animated film you’ll see on this list. Animation lovers mainly get their jollies from American or Japanese properties, so it’s nice to be reminded that Europe’s got game too. A steampunk adventure out of France that would make Miyazaki proud, April and the Extraordinary World offers an exciting blend of genres that feels fresher than the vast majority of recent animated fare.

 

10. Coco (2017)

Pixar hit it out of the park yet again with Coco, a fantasy tale of a Mexican boy visiting the Land of the Dead on Dia de Muertos. Boasting astounding new heights of CGI detail and a surprising amount of heart, Coco is proof that Pixar’s storytellers still know what they’re doing.

 

9. Mission: Impossible III, Ghost Protocol, Rogue Nation, and Fallout (2006 – 2018)

Last year, I caught up on the excellent Planet of the Apes remakes and this year decided to again tackle a series I’ve been unconsciously avoiding, the increasingly acclaimed Mission: Impossible franchise. To my surprise, they were even better than anticipated, and all of them from the third on (after J.J. Abrams got involved) are outstanding actioners. I think M:i:III is still my favorite for having the most personal stakes and the most satisfying ending.

 

8. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (2018)

Ah, the tearjerker makes its way onto the stage. As a fan of both fantasy and anime, as well as movies that earn the viewer’s tears, I was bound to love this film, and indeed its ending hit me harder than expected. Easily the most poignant film I saw all year.

 

7. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

I may have seen this animated Spider-Man extravaganza for the first time only a couple days ago, but it keeps getting better in my head. The rap music wasn’t my favorite, but everything else about this trippy cross-over adventure was so well-done that I can’t wait to see it again.

 

6. Darkest Hour (2017)

Darkest Hour isn’t great just for having one of the most transformative performances on film, courtesy of Oscar winner Gary Oldman. It’s also among the best biopics I’ve seen, giving a well-rounded view of Winston Churchill, sometimes as a demanding bully but more often as a persevering patriot, as well as a vulnerable human being in his most dire period. Especially as a companion piece to Dunkirk, it’s a fascinating piece of history eloquently told.

 

5. The Incredibles 2 (2018)

This year, Pixar once again pulled off the unlikely, offering a worthy sequel to one of their best films. Continuing the story of the Parr/Incredible family as they try to make superheroes legal again and face a mind-controlling threat, this is a great family film and ranks among Pixar’s best sequels.

 

4. Ready Player One (2018)

This dystopian virtual-reality pop-culture treasure hunt was #1 on my list of films I hoped would be good at the beginning of 2018, and, thanks to Steven Spielberg and company, it was. True, it doesn’t quite measure up to the book, but the changes made sense as it offered up one geeky thrill after another.

 

3. Train to Busan (2016)

If you had told me a year ago that I would be putting a zombie film on my list, I would never have believed it. I am by no means a typical fan of the genre, but no film kept me on the edge of my seat like this South Korean thriller. It’s an adrenaline-pumping fight for survival where things repeatedly go from bad to worse, but it’s paired with an affecting tale of a father trying to live up to his daughter’s expectations while saving her life.

 

2. The Greatest Showman (2017)

I love musicals, and I insist that we need more original ones like The Greatest Showman. Not subtle or historically accurate enough perhaps to be considered Oscar material, it’s nonetheless a joyous film from start to finish, full of misfit empowerment, spectacular show tunes, and an undercurrent of family values. It leaves me smiling every time.

 

1. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Well, Marvel pulled it off, the crowning glory of the MCU thus far. Infinity War is staggering in its ambition, juggling so many characters that it so easily could have turned into a jumbled mess in less skilled hands (ahem, DC), yet I’ve little doubt that the Russos surpassed everyone’s expectations. The ending still stings, and my continued appreciation of this movie will likely depend on how well Endgame completes it in the coming year, but for now Infinity War still amazes. I’ve heard it called this generation’s Empire Strikes Back, and I don’t disagree.

 

 

So that’s the Top Twelve, but here are the other films that made it onto my Top 365 Movie List this time around. Keep in mind that I do group most franchises together, which is the only reason I made Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales List-Worthy, since it continued the original trilogy. I also group certain similar films together, so Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow will be paired with April and the Extraordinary World, while A Quiet Place will pair with Hidden.

 

A Monster Calls (2016)

A Quiet Place (2018)

Chronesthesia (a.k.a. Love and Time Travel) (2016)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)

Searching (2018)

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

The Last Days (or Los Ultimos Dias) (2013)

Thor (2011) and Thor: The Dark World (2013) (brought back to join Thor: Ragnarok as a trilogy)

 

And as in past years, here are some unofficial awards for the List-Worthy films, which only list nerds like myself will find of interest:

 

Best opening scene: Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation

Best final scene: Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms

Coolest scene: Avengers: Infinity War

Biggest emotional impact: Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms

Oldest film: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)

Most recent film: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Longest film: Avengers: Infinity War (149 minutes)

Shortest film: A Quiet Place (90 minutes)

Best soundtrack: The Greatest Showman

Best score: Thor: The Dark World

Best special effects: Avengers: Infinity War

Most mind-bending: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (even though it wasn’t quite List-Worthy)

Most family-friendly: The Incredibles 2

Most mature: either The Last Days or Train to Busan

Scariest: A Quiet Place

Funniest: Ant-Man and the Wasp

Best VC Pick: Tombstone

Best male performance: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour

Best female performance: Not many to choose from, but probably Sigourney Weaver in A Monster Calls

Personal favorite poem written: Yi Yi

Most represented year: 2018, with ten films

 

And last comes the difficult part, figuring out which entries on my current List will have to be displaced by these new additions. This always hurts since I still love all these movies, but it’s a necessary evil for me as a list nerd. The following are the (still great) films that sadly bit the dust:

 

Almost Famous (2000) and Sing Street (2016)

A Star Is Born (1937)

The Age of Adaline (2015)

The Big Sick (2017)

Cannery Row (1982)

Counterpoint (1967)

Footloose (1984)

The Impossible (2012)

Innerspace (1987)

The Iron Giant (1999)

The Iron Lady (2011)

Spy Kids (2001) and Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002)

Time after Time (1979)

X-Men: First Class (2011) and X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

 

I’ll be posting the updated List tomorrow. Again, I wish to thank everyone who has taken the time to read my poetry or film ramblings and leave a like, follow, or comment in the past year (and especially anyone who is still reading this long post)! I can’t wait to see what the year ahead holds. A very Happy New Year to all!

 

P.S. And here’s a little montage video I found to sum up 2018 in film:

My Top Twelve Characters with Robotic Arms

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This is one of those lists for which the concept just came to me out of nowhere and niggled in my brain until I finally had enough for a list. Why? Because robotic arms are just cool, that’s why. While sometimes perceived as an encroachment of technology replacing the human person, they’re usually used as impressive enhancements indicating the technological progress of their owner’s futuristic setting. They’re also a convenient replacement that serves as an ever-present reminder of the trauma of a lost limb. For those who have lost a limb, I look forward to the day when fully functional limbs comparable to the real thing are actually a reality, though that might be a mixed blessing, as you can see in this very dark animated short film.

As for this list, I had to go outside my typical realm of movies in order to get a full twelve. I had considered forgoing the robotic part and sticking instead with any prosthetic arm (think Dr. Strangelove, The Fugitive, and The Best Years of Our Lives), but that’s a list for another time. Eschewing realism, we’re sticking with fully functional robotic limbs, with my selection aided by the likes of television and anime. I’m also not counting characters who are more robot than human, so don’t expect to see the Terminator, Robocop, or DC’s Cyborg on here, despite the fact they technically fit the theme. Thus, here are my Top Twelve characters with robotic arms:

 

12. Jet Black – Cowboy Bebop

As the captain of the Bebop, Jet Black is the most level-headed and fatherly member of his crew of interplanetary bounty hunters. A cop before being betrayed by his partner and losing his arm, he keeps his cybernetic replacement limb as a reminder of his former life and mistakes.

 

11. Ulysses Klaue – Black Panther

Andy Serkis’s Klaue lost his arm to Ultron’s rage in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but in Black Panther he got a fancy vibranium one complete with a laser cannon. Too bad he didn’t stick around long enough to use it more.

 

10. Yang – RWBY

This is sort of a spoiler for anyone who hasn’t watched Rooster Teeth’s ongoing animated web series, but Yang (the Y in the title RWBY) meets the wrong end of a sword and is dis-armed rather traumatically at one point. After a tough time healing, though, she’s come back strong with a cutting-edge replacement.

 

9. Finn – Adventure Time

This might also count as a spoiler, but Finn, the human main character of Cartoon Network’s hit Adventure Time, also misplaces his arm, several times actually. After one replacement made of cursed grass turned into a clone of him (this is a weird series), he finally went with a mechanical upgrade, just like his counterpart from another dimension.

 

8. Claw – Inspector Gadget

Whether it’s Rupert Everett in the first live-action film or his animated counterpart, Dr. Claw is Inspector Gadget’s most dangerous nemesis and gets this high on the list based on pure nostalgia. Yes, I realize the claw might be considered a hand prosthetic rather than an arm, but I’m allowed to fudge now and then.

 

7. Violet Evergarden – Violet Evergarden

The title character of Netflix’s recent anime series Violet Evergarden is a traumatized former child soldier who, after the war’s end, finds a new life as a professional letter writer. Having lost both of her arms, her two mechanical limbs are both strong and remarkably adept at activities like typing on a typewriter. It’s really a good and poignant series, with the tenth episode being one of the most emotional episodes of TV I’ve seen.

 

6. Furiosa – Mad Max: Fury Road

In most cases of replacement limbs, suspension of disbelief is required since their operation should involve complicated nerve links and such, so I have no idea how Furiosa’s mechanical forearm that straps into place is supposed to function. But it does, and it makes her that much cooler.

 

5. Long John Silver – Treasure Planet

I never said someone on the list couldn’t also have a robotic leg. I hold that Treasure Planet is much better than the gimmicky update some critics called it, and turning Treasure Island’s one-legged pirate into a cyborg was an inspired addition, as well as a neat way to work in CGI to the 2-D animation.

 

4. Edward Elric – Fullmetal Alchemist franchise

Here’s another character with a robotic arm and leg, both made out of a material called automail. The adventure of the Elric brothers in this hugely popular anime franchise all stems from an alchemy experiment gone wrong that claims two of Edward’s limbs and his brother’s whole body. Good thing he has access to automail prosthetics, which help facilitate all the fantasy action for which the series is known.

 

3. Bucky / The Winter Soldier – Captain America/MCU

I’ll be honest. I sort of developed this list around Bucky. Captain America’s friend-turned-brainwashed-enemy-turned-friend-again was the first character I thought of, with the best robotic arm of recent years. Time will tell if Rocket ever gets his hands on it.

 

2. Doctor Octopus – Spider-Man 2

Remember I said I could fudge? Sure, you could say Doc Ock’s robotic appendages are tentacles rather than arms, but the fact that they’re fused to his spinal column makes them limbs in my eyes, and he sure knows how to use them.

 

1. Luke Skywalker/ Darth Vader – Star Wars

Most nerds out there probably saw this one coming. I couldn’t choose between father and son, so both Skywalkers share the #1 spot. If you have to lose a limb, light sabers are probably the safest way for it to happen, and at least the Star Wars universe has handy life-like replacements on demand. One day, perhaps we’ll get to that point too. (I can dream, can’t I?)

 

 

And here are some prosthetic runners-up worth mentioning:

 

Tetsuo from Akira – Tetsuo builds himself a robotic arm with his psychic powers, though it doesn’t go well afterward.

Combustion Man from Avatar: The Last Airbender – A bounty hunter after Aang has both a third eye and a mechanical forearm.

Cable (Josh Brolin) from Deadpool 2 – Cable didn’t make the list because I have not seen Deadpool 2, but he’s still worth a mention.

Detective Spooner (Will Smith) from I, Robot – Despite hating robots, Spooner has a bit of robot himself.

Tee Hee (Julius Harris) from Live and Let Die – I barely remember this James Bond movie, but apparently there’s a henchman with a pincer hand?

Kushana from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind – The antagonist from this Miyazaki classic has removable hands thanks to some giant killer bugs.

Jonah (Beau Knapp) from The Signal – Alien experiments give abductees strange prosthetics in this sci-fi.

 

Thanks for reading my random nerdy list! Let me know what you think and feel free to tell me of any other robotic arm owners I may have forgotten.

 

My Top Twelve Films of 2017

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Lists

I know, I know; it’s almost the middle of 2018, and I’m just now getting around to a list of 2017 movies? Yep, that’s right. I’ve never been the type to immediately see every movie out in the theater, even since starting this blog, and, except for certain blockbusters, I typically have no qualms about waiting for the DVD or a second-run showing.

On top of that, Oscar season is rarely as appealing to me as it is to many bloggers. I was impressed with the 2016 Oscar season and did the list for that year shortly after the Academy Awards ceremony, but 2017’s awards contenders didn’t hold as much interest for me, which is why you won’t notice as many Oscar nominees below. Boy, it almost sounds as if I don’t even like movies, but it’s not true, I tell you!

All that to say that I’ve taken my time catching up on 2017’s offerings, and, with 2018 shaping up to be a strong year as well, I think I’m finally ready for a 2017 list of my own, which perhaps reflects my geeky and less-than-critical tastes. All of the Top Twelve made it onto my Top 365 List, and several of the runners-up came quite close. Like last year, I’ll start with the lower films still worth seeing and work up to #1. Keep in mind that these are only my personal favorites and that there are plenty of films I’ve still yet to see, so feel free to recommend your own faves. Time for a walk down recent memory lane.

Runners-Up:

Pitch Perfect 3

Death Note

Kong: Skull Island

September Morning

The Zookeeper’s Wife

Split

Alien: Covenant

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Lady Bird

The Man Who Invented Christmas

The Lego Batman Movie

The Mountain Between Us

Get Out

All Saints

Cars 3

Fits and Starts

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

The Breadwinner

Marjorie Prime

No Game No Life: Zero

Only the Brave

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

 

 

12. The Big Sick

R-rated comedies usually aren’t for me, but Kumail Nanjiani’s semi-autobiographical account of his romance with wife and co-writer Emily V. Gordon had plenty of heart and insight to balance out its needless profanity. Both Nanjiani as himself and Zoe Kazan as Emily bring an authenticity to the strain of a sudden medical crisis, coupled with Nanjiani’s struggles with his Muslim family, while Holly Hunter and Ray Romano turn in fantastic supporting performances as Emily’s stressed parents. I rather wish this had won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar.

 

11. Thor: Ragnarok

You might notice a partiality for superhero movies in this part of the list. True, 2017 wasn’t the strongest year for the genre, but its offerings were still consistently entertaining, even as popcorn fluff. Diverging entirely from the established tone of the series, Taika Waititi brought a uniquely absurd sense of humor to Thor, which may have cheapened some of the stakes but still made for a fun ride and a great addition to the MCU in Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie.

 

10. Wonder Woman

Well, DC proved me wrong. After I was largely unimpressed by the dreary Batman v. Superman, Wonder Woman showed a better side of the DC universe through a period piece a la The First Avenger. Gal Gadot effortlessly filled an iconic role and, with strong support from Chris Pine, showed us a moving superhero origin story to rival Marvel’s juggernauts. The overblown climax is a bit messy, but the scene at No Man’s Land alone was worth the price of admission.

 

9. Spider-Man: Homecoming

I’m honestly surprised that I liked Homecoming as much as I did, since I still consider Tobey McGuire the cinematic Spider-Man. But you could say that I don’t mind a new generation growing up with Tom Holland as the webslinger. Instead of the origin story we’ve already seen twice, Homecoming centers on the formative years of Peter Parker as a teenage hero under Tony Stark’s wing, and its high-school focus and light-hearted tone made it work as a different version of Spider-Man that I could still buy into (as long as that new generation still watches the original trilogy).

 

8. War for the Planet of the Apes

I got to catch up with the whole modern Planet of the Apes trilogy last year, and I was shocked that it was as good as everyone said. War for the Planet of the Apes may be the bleakest of the three, but the intelligence and nuance of the first two films are compounded here with Caesar’s apes facing a fanatical human threat. Its CGI is jaw-dropping and its battles and prison escape scenes keep it entertaining, but the moral themes of suffering and empathy are what make this resonate more than your typical blockbuster.

 

7. Dunkirk

Maybe revolutionizing the war genre is overstating it, but Christopher Nolan turned the evacuation of Dunkirk into an impressively mounted puzzle, split into time-dilated thirds. Seeing it in the theater, the sense of tension was almost constant, and even if the individual characters weren’t as developed as I would have liked, it was riveting to watch all the pieces come together so masterfully.

 

6. Chronesthesia (a.k.a. Love and Time Travel)

This one may be a bit of a cheat since it’s technically from 2016, but it was only shown at two film festivals in New Zealand and Austin, so 2017 was the first chance I would have gotten to see it anyway. I love films that weave together character stories in unexpected ways with a little bit of the supernatural thrown in, and that’s exactly what Chronesthesia does. Hayden J. Weal does triple duty directing, writing, and playing the misanthropic main character, who wakes to find mysterious messages that help him meet and connect with others. Despite not even having a Wikipedia page, it’s a beautifully human film that’s more about compassion, romance, and empathy than the mental time travel its name suggests.

 

5. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Everyone loves the first Guardians, but I think Vol. 2 was even better, aided by having an already established cast that received greater development on top of all the sarcastic banter, sci-fi coolness, and ‘70s throwback tunes. Kurt Russell made for a great antagonist, and Yondu’s role provided one of the most bittersweet endings in the Marvel canon.

 

4. Darkest Hour

Darkest Hour is more than just a showcase for Gary Oldman’s stupendous turn as Winston Churchill; it’s one of the best biopics I’ve seen, bolstered by transportive cinematography and a wittily cracking script. There’s a reason Oldman was a shoo-in for Best Actor, and he truly disappears into the role, showing Churchill at his worst, his best, and his most desperate. Coming out the same year as Dunkirk, it’s also cool to see the same events from a different perspective.

 

3. Coco

Even with the over-reliance on sequels in recent years, Coco proves that Pixar’s still got it. I was nervous since the story of a Mexican boy transported to the Land of the Dead seemed too similar to The Book of Life from three years earlier, but Coco is better in every way and far from a copycat. It’s a love letter to family, music, Mexican culture, and lost loved ones, and a stunningly animated adventure to boot.

 

2. The Greatest Showman

Have I mentioned that I love musicals? Every now and then, someone tries to remind Hollywood that there is a market for well-done musicals, and along with Les Misérables and La La Land, I can only hope The Greatest Showman will convince them to make more. This was one of those rare theater experiences where I loved every minute, from Hugh Jackman’s charismatic P.T. Barnum to the exuberant choreography to the brilliantly catchy songs by Pasek and Paul. Perhaps not the most historically accurate film out there, but I still loved it.

 

1. Star Wars: The Last Jedi

That’s right. If any Last Jedi haters are reading this, yes, I think The Last Jedi was awesome. Whoo, glad I got that off my chest. But seriously, I don’t understand the backlash this movie has gotten, because even after hearing a lot of mixed reviews, I went in and loved it. What amazes me even more is that they did to Luke exactly what I didn’t want a year ago, but the rest was so entertaining that I didn’t mind much, though my opinion still hinges somewhat on how Episode IX continues the story. Last Jedi had some of the coolest scenes in any Star Wars film, and I look forward to seeing what else director Rian Johnson is cooking up for his own trilogy.

 

 

So that’s the list. As I said, there are still plenty of movies yet to see, so this is still a work in progress. If I could redo my 2016 list, it would look rather different now that I’ve seen some more worthwhile gems (hmm, maybe I should update it), and the same will likely be true of this 2017 list. Let me know what you think and whatever recommendations from last year you might have, and I’ll be right here planning the list for 2018. We’re only halfway through the year, and it’s already looking good!

My Top Twelve Avicii Songs

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Lists

When it comes to specific artists, I tend to only do Top Twelve lists for my all-time favorites, such as Lindsey Stirling and Coldplay, and even without the sad news of Avicii’s death on April 20, he would have gotten a Top Twelve from me eventually. Due to his passing, though, now seems like the best time to honor this giant of EDM music. (That’s Electronic Dance Music, for the uninitiated.)

When celebrities die, it usually doesn’t hit me personally. It’s sad, and I have sympathy for those who are hit hard, but the grief that many showed over David Bowie or Chester Bennington wasn’t the same for me because I wasn’t a fan of theirs at the time. But in this case, I listen to Avicii’s songs on a daily basis so not since Robin Williams committed suicide has a celebrity death saddened my heart this much, and it’s even sadder that, after many health issues, Avicii reportedly took his own life as well, at only 28 years old no less. I’m not even the hard-partying type or one to go “clubbing,” but I know a jam when I hear it.

Avicii, or Tim Bergling, was a Swedish DJ and producer with a prolific discography of electronic hits. I’ve even turned my mom into an EDM fan thanks to his repertoire of electronic earworms. He had a talent for finding just the right combination of notes for a brilliantly catchy hook that gets the head bopping and that lives on in the memory. That’s where Avicii will live on through his music, and his talent will be sorely missed.

12. “Heaven”

 
Apparently one of Avicii’s last tracks, “Heaven” has still not been released officially, but it shows his talent certainly wasn’t waning at the end. The lyrics “I think I just died and went to heaven” make me suspect that he knew what he was going to do long before his death.

 
11. “Waiting For Love”

 
Avicii has a wealth of great lyrics, but I especially love singing/listing the days of the week in this toe-tapping jam.

 

10. “We Write the Story” (collaboration with Benny and Bjorn of ABBA, with choir)

 
When I heard this, I thought it sounded like the theme for an Olympic ceremony, and close enough, it boasted a unique rock opera grandeur as the opening anthem for the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest (which I hadn’t heard of till recently but is apparently a huge deal in Europe, having been televised for the last sixty-two years).

 

9. “I Could Be the One” (with Nicky Romero)

 
Sadly, the head-banging climax at the end isn’t nearly long enough.

 

8.  “Without You” (featuring Sandro Cavazza)

 
This was #3 on my Top Twelve List of 2017 Songs, and it’s also special to Norwegian DJ Kygo (another favorite artist of mine), who played it recently at Coachella as a tribute to Avicii.

 

7. “Broken Arrows”

 
Between the inspirational music video, the endlessly catchy hook, and country-ish vocals from Zac Brown, this song should absolutely have earned more notice.

 
6. “The Days”

 
Sometimes Avicii’s songs end too soon, but with two verses and a climax, “The Days” feels like one of his most complete songs, at least to me.

 

5. “Lay Me Down”

 
Why the heck was this not all over the radio? Sung by Adam Lambert, it makes me want to find the nearest dance floor.

 
4. “Hey Brother”

 
I think I’ve come to realize that I really enjoy the genre mix called “folktronica,” and “Hey Brother” is an outstanding example. In 2014, it was Avicii’s last song to place in the U.S. Top 40 charts.

 
3. “Levels”

 
“Levels” is where Avicii and EDM as a whole started to earn some real notice outside their niche. Sampling “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” by Etta James (which has been sampled elsewhere as well), “Levels” boasts one of Avicii’s most recognizable riffs and my favorite video of his and is often ranked as his best work (and my mom’s favorite too).  Except for “Sunshine” with David Guetta, it’s also his only song to warrant a Grammy nomination, which doesn’t say much for the Grammies if they can’t award a song and artist who clearly deserved more.

 
2. “Wake Me Up” (with Aloe Blacc)

 
Not too long ago, this folktronica hit would have been an effortless #1, but it’s been barely edged out, maybe because I’ve heard it so darn much. This is easily Avicii’s most played song on the radio and placed #1 on my Top Twelve List of Head-Banging Songs.

 
1. “The Nights”

 
The more I hear “The Nights,” the more I love it! Written with and sung by Nicholas Furlong, it’s more progressive house mixed with folktronica and just a little bit of a Celtic lilt. The lyrics put it over the edge for me and carry even more emotional weight now that Avicii is gone. “One day, you’ll leave this world behind, so live a life you will remember.” He did, and we’ll remember for him.

 
Runners-Up (from next to least favorite and not counting remixes):

“Fade into Darkness”

“For a Better Day”

“Sunset Jesus”

“I’ll Be Gone” (still unreleased)

“Last Dance”

“Lonely Together” (featuring Rita Ora)

“Seek Bromance”

“City Lights”

“You Make Me”

“Faster Than Light”

“Somewhere in Stockholm”

“Sunshine” (with David Guetta)

“Dear Boy”

“Friend of Mine”

“X You”

“Taste the Feeling” (with Conrad Sewell)

“Liar Liar”

“You Be Love (with Billy Raffoul)

“Heart Upon My Sleeve”

“Stay with You” (with Mike Posner)

“Addicted to You”

“Dancing in My Head” (with Eric Turner)

“Silhouettes”

 

Farewell, Avicii. May you rest in peace.

For the end, here’s one man’s brilliant remix of Avicii’s biggest songs, showing how he’s still inspiring his fans.

 

Ranking the Marvel Cinematic Universe…in Verse!

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Action, Lists, Superhero

Nineteen films in Marvel’s canon, fruit of planners’ careful plannin’,
And though some are sick of fandoms,
I am still a fan extreme.
So to honor them and thank them, now seems like the time to rank them,
Using Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven”
For my rhyming scheme.

Just so everybody knows, regardless of where each one goes,
I like them all, both highs and lows.
(And poems are just more fun than prose.)

#19:  The Incredible Hulk (2008)

At number nineteen in the listing is one barely still existing
In the continuity
Of Marvel’s growing universe.
Edward Norton as Bruce Banner had the acting chops and manner,
But the climax was all smashing,
Which got tedious or worse.

It’s better than the green banana that had featured Eric Bana
But still feels unripe so, man, a-
Nother recast was in store.
William Hurt has since been spotted, but the hints with which it’s dotted
Might as well have not been plotted
And should come back nevermore.

#18:  Iron Man 2 (2010)

Iron Man put Marvel soaring, but its sequel left some snoring,
Dragged down by two villains boring,
Both in need of better scripts.
Poisoned by his source of power, Tony’s mood was often sour,
But he managed still to win
When Russian Mickey Rourke made whips.

Still though, ScarJo as Black Widow made her entrance, and she did so
Well that most will only think
Of her debut and not the rest.
Rhodey gets a suit for blasting, none the worse for his recasting,
And Don Cheadle has proved lasting
Past the Terrance Howard test.

#17:  Thor (2011)

Then came Thor with smashing hammer, lifted up by Branagh’s glamor,
Boasting bold Old English grammar
And Chris Hemsworth’s muscled bod.
Visually, Asgard was stunning, and we love Loki so cunning,
But the plot was just too simple:
Humbling the thunder god.

New Mexico no doubt did smile as the place of Thor’s exile,
Where he learned to face the trial
Of his selfless worthiness.
I like Thor’s supporting players, and the myths have many layers,
But only in its outward airs
Was this Thor able to impress.
Still important? Yeah, I guess.

#16:  Iron Man 3 (2013)

Avengers rocked the whole box office, praised by all except some sophists,
So Phase 2 kicked off for Marvel
With another Iron Man.
Traumatized and shaken Tony, grown from being glib and phony,
Offers honest testimony
Where his lowest point began.

Kingsley’s villain is scene-stealing till we get to his revealing
That he’s merely double-dealing,
Just a hack to fool the press.
Well, it worked, and it’s disjointing, baffling, and disappointing,
As is Tony’s final act,
Progress but dumb nonetheless.
Yet the rest meets with success.

#15:  Black Panther (2018)

Don’t discount my rare opinion, thinking I’m some racist minion.
No one race deserves dominion
Over superhero flicks.
As the first black solo story, yes, Black Panther meets with glory,
Breaking in new territory,
Adding to the Marvel mix.

Yet Wakandan mysticism paired with governmental schism
Drew from me some criticism
While from others gaining praise.
Sister Shuri and the action still earned positive reaction,
And, though others have more traction,
This film had a trail to blaze.

#14:  Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Keeping Phase 2 sequels going, Thor 2 showed the stakes keep growing
As the first time that the whole dang
Universe was jeopardized.
Fantasy continued merging with sci-fi, like worlds converging
As dark elves pursued the purging
Of the light they so despised.

True, it won’t impress Criterion, but the tone is still Shakespearean,
And both Thor and Loki shine
As they develop their rapport.
Next to Thanos or the Joker, Malekith is mediocre
As a villain. “Who?” you say,
Which just confirms my comment more.

#13:  Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Recently, the god of thunder suddenly has fallen under
Comedy, and fans have wondered
Where the gravity has gone.
Yet most others have ceased caring, caught up in the funny pairing
Of both Thor and Hulk, not sparing
Any joke to fall upon.

When his sister shows she’s greater, Thor becomes a gladiator
Under Goldblum the dictator,
Yet his humor pulls him through.
Losing hammer, home, and hair, plus friends you may not know were there,
May seem to be a bleak affair,
Yet laughter keeps the sad from view.

#12:  Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

After Garfield and Maguire, did the universe require
Yet another Spider-Man
To swing his webs and quips galore?
Maybe so, because Homecoming kept young Peter Parker humming,
And we knew that he was coming
Since he was in Civil War.
(Want a fourth? Please, nevermore.)

Born from Disney’s deal with Sony, this young Spider now has Tony,
Gifting high-tech Spidersuits
To mentor over-eager Pete.
With its youthful high school setting and no Uncle Ben regretting,
It’s a new and fun resetting,
Not the best but no mean feat.

#11:  Doctor Strange (2016)

From the tech so futuristic, Marvel moved on to the mystic
With a dose of surrealistic
Imagery to help us cope.
Cumberbatch proved quite appealing as a doctor seeking healing,
Whose whole world is set to reeling,
Much like a kaleidoscope.

Yes, it’s effortless equating Strange’s rehabilitating
With one Tony Stark and rating
Iron Man as first and best.
Visually, though, eyes were popping, just as many jaws were dropping.
Marvel showed no signs of flopping,
Always leaving us impressed.

#10:  Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

I don’t mean to be a hater, since I do enjoy James Spader,
But in looking back years later,
Age of Ultron is a mess.
Triumph was not guaranteed in this great challenge for Joss Whedon,
Yet he made the mess proceed in
Good directions, more or less.

Lots of characters to juggle, hints at future tales to smuggle,
All of it proved quite the struggle,
Even for his cleverness.
Ultron left a weak impression, but the heroes in procession
Still were awesome, since (Confession!)
I’m a geek, but I digress.

#9:  Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Of their many near disasters turned to gold by Marvel’s masters,
This one shocked the best forecasters
Who thought surely this would flop.
Talking trees and troublemakers and raccoons were no dealbreakers;
No, these misfit moneymakers
Proved too humorous to stop.

With its crowded plot subverted by pop culture jokes inserted,
Seventies pop songs diverted,
Making Guardians a fave.
Though not every wisecrack landed, Marvel’s world was well expanded,
And this superteam commanded
Special props for being brave.

#8:  Ant-Man (2015)

Yet another risky venture, Marvel’s miniature adventure
Brought an original Avenger
From the comic to the screen.
Though its brethren may stand taller, I appreciate the smaller
Scale and silliness of Ant-Man,
Still with sights we’d never seen.

Paul Rudd’s both sincere and silly next to Lost’s Evangeline Lilly,
As he rides on ants (yes, really),
For a heist by shrinkage done.
While its physics call for bending, Ant-Man’s lark is worth commending.
It’s a romp or runt depending
On the viewer’s sense of fun.

#7:  Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Sequels can be tricky notions, preying on the fans’ devotions.
Some say this went through the motions,
But I favor Volume 2.
There’s more leeway to admire characters established prior,
And its fun flies slightly higher
Than its predecessor flew.

Mantis is a great addition, while Kurt Russell’s opposition
As Quill’s father made his mission
Quite the father/son dispute.
Drax’s laughing is contagious, and the action’s still outrageous,
But its poignancy engages.
Plus, I just love Baby Groot.

#6:  Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

As you might guess from his placing, Cap’s one hero I’m embracing,
And his second film’s great pacing
Helped it merit much acclaim.
As a proven HYDRA hater, Cap was branded as a traitor,
And one elevator later,
He set out to clear his name.

Verifying comic theories, this one’s vast conspiracies
Rippled through both film and series,
Changing Marvel’s status quo.
Steve and S.H.I.E.L.D. were still quite lucky, more than poor, reprogrammed Bucky,
And to helm it, Marvel welcomed
Anthony and Joe Russo.

#5:  Iron Man (2008)

Iron Man initiated all that Marvel’s since created,
With a movie that predated
Disney’s lucrative control.
Downey, Jr.’s star selection was, in casting terms, perfection,
Serving as a nice reflection
Of the actor in the role.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges kept the central cast prestigious.
(Rhodey, though, would be recast,
With ol’ Don Cheadle in the wings.)
Tony’s origins so winning got the MCU to spinning.
Solo story, grand beginning—
Iron Man was many things.

#4:  Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Though Iron Man was the go-getter, origins don’t get much better
Than the fourth but First Avenger
In the Marvel pantheon.
World War II was recreated, screaming classic but not dated,
And Steve Rogers’ motivated
Hero showed both brains and brawn.

Of all baddies you could fill in, Nazis are an ideal villain,
And for girlfriends, Agent Carter
Still remains one of the best.
Though not quirky or exotic, Steve’s so sweet and patriotic,
Standing up to those despotic,
That he stands above the rest.

#3:  Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

One whole decade in the making, bigger if not quite groundbreaking,
There is no doubt or mistaking
Marvel’s tour de force so far.
No more just a brief inclusion, Thanos dreams of one conclusion,
Boasting views downright Malthusian,
If he only had the Stones.

So much epic superteaming, such high stakes no higher seeming,
Fruit of all of Marvel’s scheming,
Nerdwise, this film made our day.
Though it gave us all we wanted, viewers might not leave undaunted.
I walked out less thrilled than haunted,
Part 2 still one year away.

#2:  Captain America: Civil War (2016)

“Avengers” isn’t in the title, since Steve Rogers is most vital,
But all members are not idle
In this epic civil war.
Ant-Man helps with Cap’s resisting, Spider-Man swings in assisting,
And Black Panther joins the listing,
All with ends worth fighting for.

Nuanced in its controversies, vengeful spats, and moral mercies,
Civil War left this fan thirsty
For whatever would come next.
Once more, status quo was shattered, favorite heroes sad and scattered.
Next to others, this one mattered.
Give those Russos my respects.

#1:  The Avengers (2012)

Phase 1’s awesome culmination, The Avengers earned ovation.
(I saw it post-graduation,
Very fondly I recall.)
Team-ups were a new sensation, this one passing expectations,
Building on its strong foundations,
One big balanced free-for-all.

Geniuses and egos clashing, aliens and buildings crashing,
Every hero still proved smashing.
(Who wants shawarma? Anyone?)
Whedon’s dialogue was clever, which surprises no one ever,
And their first combined endeavor
Still is Marvel’s most well-done.

Thanks to anyone persisting, finishing my Marvel listing.
Let me know what you may think.
No need to write in verse, though. *Wink*

My Top Twelve Rabbits/Bunnies in Movies

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With Easter approaching, I thought now was as good a time as any to post this list I’ve been planning for some time. Who doesn’t like bunnies, right? The long ears, the twitching nose, the lucky detachable feet—I’m partial to cats as pets, but rabbits are some of the most adorable creatures God placed on this planet. (Just don’t look too deeply into their dark side.)

Because of that, it’s no surprise that they’ve popped up in countless films and TV shows, especially anything animated, as well as commercials. If it features talking animals, there’s bound to be a bunny. Just look at all the commercial spokesbunnies, like for Cadbury, Energizer, Nesquik, and Trix. I must also mention the many movies I haven’t seen that nonetheless have a rabbit in the title, such as White Rabbit, Rabbit-Proof Fence, The Rabbit Trap, The Velveteen Rabbit, Get to Know Your Rabbit, The Nasty Rabbit, Bunny Drop, The House Bunny,The Brown Bunny, and Looking for the Jackalope, as well as Rabbit Hole, which is a great movie but has nothing to do with actual rabbits. Thus, here are my Top Twelve rabbits of the silver screen, some cute and funny, some not so much. Let’s hop along, shall we?
 

12. Alice in Wonderland

Whether it’s Disney’s original 1953 classic or Tim Burton’s dreadful remake, Alice in Wonderland has the distinction of having two separate rabbit characters, the clock-watching White Rabbit and the March Hare. Lewis Carroll must have been partial to lagomorphs too.

 

11. The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds

Directed by Paul Newman, this well-acted 1972 drama based on a Pulitzer-winning play features Joanne Woodward as a bitter mother who takes out her frustrations with the world on her two daughters. Oh, and there’s a rabbit too. It’s a cute comfort for the younger daughter (played by Nell Potts, Woodward’s real daughter with Newman) but also one more thing for her mother to complain about. The ending is one of the most heartbreaking I’ve seen. (The picture is from the play version since I couldn’t find a picture with the movie’s rabbit.)

 

10. Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Aardman Animation does love their clay rabbits, so much that they featured prominently in the Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit movie. After experimenting to take away a pesky rabbit’s carrot cravings, Wallace is imbued with them himself and transforms into the giant were-rabbit.

 

9. Night of the Lepus

I actually haven’t seen the whole thing, but Night of the Lepus stands as one of the stupidest monster movie ideas in recorded history. (How could giant rabbits carry a movie, come on! Wait, what was #10 about again?) Granted, rabbits can be a considerable threat in high enough numbers, or big enough size in this case, but the effects are just laughable. This is the kind of movie that was made for Mystery Science Theater 3000 because it’s just so easy to mock, and the rabbits are everywhere.

 

8. Fatal Attraction

The rabbit died. Why did the rabbit have to die?  Darn you, Glenn Close, you bunny boiler! It’s not the first bunny death on this list, but it’s one of the most memorably disturbing.

 

7. Monty Python and the Holy Grail

“That rabbit’s got a vicious streak a mile wide. It’s a killer!” If you ever wonder why Monty Python and the Holy Grail is still such a popular comedy, just remember the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog, which has apparently been parodied quite a bit in various video games. “That’s no ordinary rabbit. That’s the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on!”

 

6. Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Still one of the most unique films ever made, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? has a rabbit both in the name and as a main character. I can’t help but wonder what this film’s mix of live-action and animation might look like if it were made today.

 

5. Zootopia

I think Judy Hopps is one of Disney’s most admirable characters, a starry-eyed bunny unafraid to challenge the system and take on the complexities of police work in the big city. Like I said, if there are talking animals, there’s probably a prominent bunny.

 

4.  Harvey / Donnie Darko 

Haven’t we all wished to see man-sized imaginary rabbits and discover they’re not imaginary? No, well, me neither. Yet that’s the case in both Harvey and Donnie Darko, the former a charming tale of positive thinking with Jimmy Stewart, the latter a dark mind challenge with Jake Gyllenhaal. I know one’s a pooka and the other’s a dead guy in a rabbit suit, but I couldn’t resist the comparison.

 

3.  Bambi

I rest my case again. Exemplifying the cute bunny image we all received at an early age, Thumper is adorable with that vibrating foot of his.

 

2. Bugs Bunny (in various shorts, Space Jam, and Looney Tunes: Back in Action)

I had to mention the most iconic rabbit of them all, though his presence mainly qualifies due to the two films that blended live-action with animation, much like #6. Silly as all get-out, Space Jam is a fond piece of my childhood and introduced Bugs’ crush Lola Bunny, while Looney Tunes: Back in Action is similarly off-the-wall fun, giving Bugs one of the funniest Psycho parodies ever.
 

1. Watership Down

For a general rabbit list, Bugs would come out on top, but for a rabbit movie list, Watership Down takes the carrot cake because, well, almost every character is a rabbit. I made a distinction in my review that this is very much a film about rabbits, not bunnies, since it includes some shocking violence you don’t normally see in children’s animation. Even so, it’s a great film from start to tearjerking finish, and the most rabbit-centric movie you’ll ever watch.

 

And here are some runners-up for all you rabbit lovers out there:

 

Bedknobs and Broomsticks – Angela Lansbury turns a boy into a rabbit to prove her magic.

Boundin’ – Pixar short with a jackalope.

Bunny – Oscar-winning short film by Chris Wedge.

Con Air – “Put the bunny back in the box.”

Hoodwinked! – The bunny did it!

Hop – The film that almost ruined jelly beans for a generation.

Jean de Florette – Set on a rabbit farm in France.

The Last Mimzy – A stuffed rabbit enhances the intelligence of two children.

Of Mice and Men – George describes a farm with rabbits of their own to poor Lenny.

Peter Rabbit – This one should be obvious.

Presto – Pixar short with a magician’s hungry rabbit named Alec Azam (get it?)

The Rescuers – I don’t quite remember it, but there’s a rabbit apparently.

Rise of the Guardians – The only film I know of to actually star the Easter bunny and allowed us to hear Hugh Jackman say “I’m a bunny” in his Australian accent.

Robin Hood – The Disney version features numerous rabbit characters.

The Secret Life of Pets – Kevin Hart plays a maniacal bunny of vengeance.

Song of the South – Controversial film whose only merit lies in the animated Bre’r Rabbit segments.

Steel Magnolias – Ends with Kevin J. O’Connor in an Easter bunny suit riding a motorcycle.

Summer Wars – The fighting champion of the virtual world is a rabbit avatar.

Welcome to the Space Show – This imaginative anime film is put in motion by a search for a pet rabbit.

Winnie the Pooh – Let’s not forget Pooh’s over-worried pal Rabbit.

The Zookeeper’s Wife – A traumatized Jewish girl is comforted by a little bunny to hold.

 

Even if it’s still a tad early, a Happy Easter to all!

 

My Top Twelve 2018 Movies I Hope Are Good

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This is hardly an original idea for a list since I already took part in an Opinion Battle on this very subject, but I thought I’d do a quick Top Twelve to highlight the upcoming movies that have me most excited, or maybe afraid in case they flop. This year has plenty of movies worth some hype, from continued comic book installments to original potential blockbusters from big directors. Two that would have made this list have already come out, namely Maze Runner: The Death Cure and Black Panther, which says something when buzz-worthy films are coming out in the usually dry period of January/February. That’s why I’ve waited this long for this list, but there’s also the added advantage of most of these now having a trailer released to put alongside each one. So without further ado, here are the Top Twelve movies I’m most looking forward to in 2018.

12. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse

As if we haven’t had enough versions of Spider-Man… Well, maybe we haven’t, especially when there’s an entire multiverse of alternate Spider-Men that the MCU is unlikely to tackle. Leave it to the animated minds of Phil Lord and Chris Miller to give us what promises to be a unique comic book experience.

11. Wreck-It Ralph 2

Wreck-It Ralph was already the Who Framed Roger Rabbit? of video games, combining new faces and familiar characters into a fun animated hodgepodge. The sequel seems to be strengthening that comparison, sending Ralph and Vanellope into the Internet to interact with Disney princesses and reportedly even Marvel and Star Wars characters. Based on the teaser, I’m hoping for good things, though I’m not a fan of the dark joke at the end.

10. Ant-Man and the Wasp

While some view it as second-rate, Ant-Man was one of my favorite recent entries in the MCU, so I hope the sequel will be even better, elevated by Evangeline Lilly getting her own shrinking suit as the Wasp, who incidentally was the comic character who came up with the name Avengers. As far as continuity, I’m not sure how this will fit in between the two halves of Infinity War, but we’ll find out soon enough.

9. First Man

Look for this, come Oscar night next year. A biopic of Neil Armstrong directed by Damien Chazelle? I am so there. Thanks to my grandfather’s and mother’s involvement, any movie about the space program is relevant to my family, and this could be up there with the best, though Ryan Gosling wouldn’t have been my first choice for Armstrong.

8. Alita: Battle Angel

A passion project of James Cameron, who is so busy on Avatar sequels that he’s handed the reins to director Robert Rodriguez, Alita: Battle Angel holds a very unique status. It’s based on a manga with a loyal but limited fanbase and no popular anime adaptation, unlike Ghost in the Shell or Death Note. It’s basically a super-niche project getting big-budget backing, which doesn’t happen very often. I have seen the single anime adaptation, which is old, obscure, and pretty violent, yet I see plenty of potential with the right treatment. And before anyone complains about her eyes, they’re apparently meant to be that unusually big. Huh, Christoph Waltz in another movie with big eyes….
 

7. Mirai of the Future

Continuing his trend of a new film every three years, Mamoru Hosoda is directing what I bet will be the big anime film of 2018. Seeming to combine elements from his previous movies The Girl Who Leapt through Time and Wolf Children (both favorites of mine), Mirai no Mirai is about a young boy who meets his future sister who has come back to the past. I can’t wait to see where this story goes.
 

6. Mortal Engines

Imagine Mad Max: Fury Road with giant cities on wheels. Sounds pretty cool, doesn’t it? With Peter Jackson producing, Mortal Engines should be one of the big blockbusters of the year’s end. Maybe I’ll have time to read the book it’s based on.
 

5. Mary Poppins Returns

This is one I’m not so much excited about as begging it’s not terrible. A sequel to Mary Poppins sounds like blasphemy, but Disney is doing it anyway. Emily Blunt seems like a pretty good choice for the iconic nanny, so I’ll try to keep an open mind.
 

4. The Incredibles 2

I’ll be honest: the first trailer for The Incredibles 2 doesn’t thrill me. The Incredibles is the Pixar film that most deserved a sequel, but I wasn’t expecting a super-powered version of Mr. Mom. Still, knowing Pixar’s track record, we have every reason to be optimistic.
 

3. Solo: A Star Wars Story

Despite all the complaints about the prequels and The Last Jedi, Star Wars has yet to do wrong by me. A prequel about Han Solo’s past seems like a great idea, and while Alden Ehrenreich doesn’t quite look like Harrison Ford, I’ll again keep an open mind. This looks to be the least Star Wars-y movie yet, so there might be backlash once again but I still can’t wait.
 

2. Avengers: Infinity War

This is it, the movie that the entire MCU has been building toward, and it will probably be much more serious than the string of comedic entries from 2017. With practically every hero involved, this is the definition of an all-star cast, and if the filmmakers can get the right balance, it could be Marvel’s finest hour. I hope. Oh, and I hear someone will die; the question is “Who?”
 

1. Ready Player One

My #1 should be no surprise to anyone who remembers last month’s Opinion Battle. This and Infinity War are practically tied, but Ready Player One has originality behind it and is based on a great book by Ernest Cline. Another Who Framed Roger Rabbit? of mixing franchises, this will be a nostalgia trip like no other, even directed by Steven Spielberg. It may go overboard on the CGI, but I’m praying that Ready Player One is the geeky thrill ride I want it to be. And at least I now have to wait less than a month for it!
 

And here are a collection of other upcoming movies with potential, starting with the next ones I’m most interested in.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – It looks like a good sequel, and who gets tired of dinosaurs?
A Quiet Place – Silence is golden and scary. Reminds me of Hidden, very much my kind of horror, if done right.
Tomb Raider – I think I already like Alicia Vikander’s version more than Angelina Jolie’s.

A Star Is Born – The fourth remake of this story, this time with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.
Creed 2 – I’m still not sure if this is actually happening, but I hope it can come close to matching the first one.
Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch – I love Dr. Seuss, and Benedict Cumberbatch seems like inspired casting.
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! – More ABBA, so I’ll give it a chance.
Skyscraper – A Die Hard ripoff with the Rock. Why not?

The Women of Marwen – Another Robert Zemeckis film that was previously an acclaimed documentary about a delusional artist who creates his own fantasy village. Might be Oscar material.
Venom – Please don’t make it R-rated, people, especially if it connects to the current Spider-Man!
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms – If Disney wants to make opulent live-action fantasies, this is the better way to go, starting from scratch rather than remaking their own classics.
A Wrinkle in Time – I loved the book, but there’s something off about the costumes and casting. I’ll still hope for the best.
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas – Really bizarre title, but it’s actually a sensitive YA anime dealing with cancer.

X-Men: Dark Phoenix – I can only hope they do this story better than The Last Stand did.
Aquaman – I still haven’t seen Justice League, so I don’t have much of an opinion about this one.
Teen Spirit – I hear it will be a musical, so I support it.
Outlaw King – Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce—it may be the next Braveheart.

My Top Twelve Songs of 2017

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I’m sure everyone’s been seeing end-of-year best-of lists everywhere they look, but I’m not quite ready for my own list of 2017 movies yet. There’s still more to catch up on, but songs are shorter and easier to appreciate, and dang, have there been some good ones this year! Ever since my 2016 song list, I’ve been trolling the radio and YouTube and carefully listening out for what might make it onto the 2017 edition. I must admit this list isn’t how I thought it would look earlier in the year, and I’m surprised that no Clean Bandit, Chainsmokers, or Lorde made the final cut.

I’ve heard all of these multiple times throughout the year, and despite agonizing over a few placements, I’m confident in my choices. Do keep in mind that music is highly subjective and dependent on taste and that these are my personal choices based on mine. There’s bound to be songs that I’ve missed in the past year, so feel free to comment on my picks or let me know your own favorites. Now, on to the list!

12. “The Castle on the Hill” by Ed Sheeran

Sheeran’s other hit “Shape of You” may have been the best-selling single of the year, but “The Castle on the Hill” is my favorite song of his yet. Built on an honest nostalgia for the past that is no more, it’s a wistful ballad for anyone who wishes they could go home.

11. “It Ain’t My Fault” by Brothers Osborne

Like last year, I had to include one great country song, and “It Ain’t My Fault” was the high point of the year for that genre. Full of guilty finger-pointing, a jamming guitar riff, and T.J. Osborne’s oh-so-deep voice, this is a perfect song for singing along to at a concert. Oh, and the video is like Point Break if it were slapstick and very politically incorrect.

10. “Walk on Water” by Thirty Seconds to Mars

Jared Leto and a choir may not be the most obvious combination, but they come together brilliantly for this rock anthem. I’d say he’s a better singer than actor. This is just the first of several alt-rock hits you’ll see on this list.

9. “No Roots” by Alice Merton

Alice Merton rocked the charts in Europe first, and when “No Roots” made its way across the Atlantic, America got to see why. I fell in love with the sound of Florence and the Machine last year, and the catchy simplicity of “No Roots” taps into a very similar Bohemian beat.

8. “Believer” and “Thunder” and “Whatever It Takes” by Imagine Dragons

As far as the airways at least, 2017 was a banner year for Imagine Dragons, who seemed to rule several radio stations with three separate hit singles. The #8 spot is technically for “Believer,” but all three get better the more I hear them, which says a lot considering “Believer” has been played to death all year. Reviews for the Evolve album have been mixed, but Imagine Dragons continues to deliver their unique brand of mainstream experimental rock. (Since I’m grouping the three, the video is a mashup by YouTuber Sam Tsui.)

7. “The Man” by The Killers

You know those jerk people who think they’re God’s gift to mankind? No one actually likes those people, but it can still be fun to sing with that kind of self-confidence. “The Man” is a perfect opportunity and quite a catchy one at that, with a different sound than I’d expect from The Killers. I hear this song a lot at work too, where one of my friends sings it to refer to me. Not that I let that go to my head….

6. “Love Is Mystical” by Cold War Kids

With its heavy piano riff in the background and a jazzy pulse, I can rarely stay still during this song. It just made its way onto the radio, and I hope they give it just as much airplay as all the vastly inferior songs.

5. “The Greatest Show,” written by Pasek and Paul, from The Greatest Showman

At least one movie cracked the Top Twelve. “This Is Me” has gotten all the attention with its Golden Globe win and Oscar nod, but “The Greatest Show” is the crown jewel of The Greatest Showman’s soundtrack, which the big finale should be. I haven’t actually seen it yet, but this song is so good that I can’t wait.

4. “Stranger Things” by Kygo, featuring OneRepublic

Not to be confused with the Netflix show of the same name or “Strangest Thing” by The War on Drugs. How interesting that the only two artists from last year’s song list (Kygo at #7, OneRepublic at #1) made it onto this one with a collaboration! I already liked Kygo’s tropical house style, but I’m now a huge fan after his latest album Kids in Love. I could have just as easily put “Sunrise,” “Kids in Love,” or “Stargazing” here, but I’m trying to keep it to one place for each artist and this was my favorite.

3. “Without You” by Avicii, featuring Sandro Cavazza

It’s pretty much a toss-up on whether Avicii or Kygo is my favorite DJ right now. Just when Kygo seems to be gaining ground, Avicii releases something like “Without You,” which ranks up there with his best work. The elusive goal for electronic music seems to be to find that rare combination of beats that feels iconic and designed to get stuck in your head, and Avicii achieved it here. (“Lonely Together” was also a good one from Avicii this year.)

2. “One Foot” by Walk the Moon

The #1 and #2 spots were tough. Like last year, I had a choice between an emotional anthem or an infectiously catchy dancefest. OneRepublic’s dancefest won last year, but even if Walk the Moon is only second this time, I still adore this song. I’ve gone nuts in my car to this song more than once, and it’s just one more example of Walk the Moon’s talent for upbeat awesomeness.

1. “Praying” by Kesha

“Praying” had to be #1 because of how honest and personal it is and how it changed the way I viewed Kesha, formerly Ke$ha. Before this, I thought of her as her “party girl” persona, but “Praying” showed a different side of her. After losing a messy court battle with her music producer Dr. Luke, whom she accused of sexual assault and emotional distress, she channeled her grief into this moving ballad of self-reempowerment. You can hear the raw emotion in her voice. Kesha’s trials predated the recent boom in sexual accusations and probably would have gone differently today, but her words of hope and prayer are the best possible response from such victims. I don’t really care about the Grammies airing later tonight, but I am rooting for “Praying” for Best Pop Solo Performance. (Update:  Of course, it didn’t win. This is why I don’t care much about the Grammies.)

 

So that’s my Top Twelve, but there were plenty of other goodies in 2017. Below are the many runners-up, generally listed from favorite to least favorite (but still good):

“Dreamer” by Axwell Ʌ Ingrosso, feat. Trevor Guthrie

“Symphony” and “I Miss You” by Clean Bandit

“Let Me Go” by Hailee Steinfeld and Alesso, feat. Florida Georgia Line and Watt

“Tell Me You Love Me” by Galantis & Throttle

“Clap Your Hands” and “Not All Heroes Wear Capes” by Owl City

“Nobody Can Hear You” by ALIUS

“Lonesome” and “Too Much” by Shaed

“Strangest Thing” by The War on Drugs

“Good Thing” by Tritonal

“Suit and Jacket” by Judah and the Lion

“Green Light” and “Perfect Places” by Lorde

“Paris” by The Chainsmokers

“Road” by Bruno Martini and Timbaland, feat. Johnny Franco

“Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay

“Up All Night” by Beck

“Feels Like Summer” by Weezer

“Lay It on Me” by Vance Joy

“It Ain’t Me” by Kygo and Selena Gomez

“Hard Times” by Paramore

“The Spectre” and “All Falls Down” by Alan Walker

“No Such Thing As a Broken Heart” by Old Dominion

“The Heart Is a Muscle” and “The Deepest Sighs, the Frankest Shadows” by Gang of Youths

“No Promises” by Cheat Codes, feat. Demi Lovato

“Feel It Still” by Portugal. The Man (talk about played to death on the radio)

“The Cure” by Lady Gaga

“What Lovers Do” by Maroon 5

“Sober Up” by AJR

“All the Pretty Girls” by Kenny Chesney

“There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” by Shawn Mendes

“Peace Sign” by The Front Bottoms

“Wolves” by Selena Gomez and Marshmello

“Every Day’s the Weekend” by Alex Lahey

“Remember Me” by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, from Coco

“Body Like a Back Road” by Sam Hunt

“Cameo” by Sam Tsui

“To Be Human” by Sia, feat. Labrinth (from Wonder Woman)

“You’re the Best Thing About Me” by U2

“Legends” by Sleeping with Sirens

“This Is My Time” by Amy Stroup

 

Hopefully, you’ll discover some gems among these as well, but let me know of any other favorites from last year you might have. Here’s hoping 2018 will be just as prolific!

As with last year, it seems fitting to finish off this musical recap of 2017 with a brief tribute to the musicians lost last year. Rest in peace, Gregg Allman, Walter Becker, Chester Bennington, Chuck Berry, Glen Campbell, David Cassidy, Chris Cornell, Fats Domino, Johnny Hallyday, Jon Hendricks, Tom Petty, Mel Tillis, John Wetton, Don Williams, and Malcolm Young. Let’s remember them at their best, like my favorite Tom Petty song.

My 2018 Blindspot Picks

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I enjoyed the majority of my Blindspot Picks from last year, so I definitely want to continue with this fun monthly series. After pondering what movies I’ve been meaning to see, I’ve picked a fairly diverse collection of goodies (hopefully), a few based on recommendations and others simply sources of curiosity. Some of these I can’t wait to finally watch. I’ve also got a shortlist of other films I could have picked, and I’m hoping I can watch some of those along the way too. Thus, in alphabetical order, here are my Blindspots for 2018. (It’s interesting that the first five start with the first five letters of the alphabet. Not intentional, of course.)

 

 

All is Lost (2013)

 

Boyhood (2014)

 

Clue (1985)

 

 

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about His Father (2008)

 

 

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

 

 

Hush (2016)

 

 

Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light ( or Hotarubi no Mori e) (2011)

 

 

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

 

 

The Sandlot (1993)

 

 

Some Like It Hot (1959)

 

 

Sunshine (2007)

 

Yi Yi (2000)