Movies I’ve Watched This Year: 2017 Edition

At the end of the year, endless lists are written about what happened the previous year. This is especially true for movies, recalling the best releases of the year. I wanted to do something different and write about the movies that I watched this year.

This includes new movies released in 2017, as well as movies that I watched for the first time from prior years, and the rewatching of films I had previously seen. This gives more of a snapshot of how I feel about these movies in the moment that I am watching them in 2017 (kind of like articles about phone’s home screen apps). Some are great, some don’t hold up over time, while others are timeless, and some are just plain fun no matter what.

Now I only thought about this idea recently, so I had to jog my mind for ALL the movies I watched in the calendar year, so this is probably am incomplete list. If more come to my recollection, I’ll update this article.

So lets dive in to the list that is organized in no particular order.

• Dr. Strange- A Marvel movie that was okay. I was entertained but didn’t think it was as amazing as critics made it out to be (which is a common occurrence with most Marvel movies). Also, origin movies are always a tough sell for me. Slightly above middle of the pack in the Marvel universe.
• Interstellar- I rewatched this movie, to write a blog post about it and to see if it still holds up. It’s a long movie, so it’s only a once a year viewing, but man was it as good as ever, still grabbing me at every moment of my first viewing in the theater. The balance of big human themes of life, love, and memories matched with personal relationships was spot on, which is surprising coming from Christopher Nolan, whose biggest weakness is taking on too much. This is some of his best work both visually and narratively. A highly underrated/overlooked film, this movie is on such a grand scale, that reminds us what movies can do that no other medium can.
• Wonder Woman- This is my favorite new movie of the year. I went in with tempered expectations because of the Superman and Batman movies that came before it, while still excited because Wonder Woman was the best part of a lackluster Batman vs Superman. But the movie blew past those expectations, with a with a superb balance of superhero fantasy, grounded with relatable characters. The relatability of their inner conflicts allows for connection that most superhero movies are missing.
• Justice League — While this movie doesn’t reach the heights of Wonder Woman, it is still an entertaining and enjoyable movie. While it’s execution may not be a tight as some Marvel movies, it delivers more than most Marvel movies in the context of intention and purpose. The biggest flaw of this movie is the need to explain, on the nose, their intentions. If you allow your characters to breath, and just be themselves like in Wonder Woman, the film would have been stronger. I am still more exhilarated watching this movie, flaws and all, than any Marvel movie (sans Guardian’s one.)
• The Social Network- One of my favorite movies of all time, this is yearly watch for me and never fails to deliver. I marvel at both it’s style and substance. A fantastic snapshot of it’s world, the beginning of a new ear of tech power-brokers, it uses it’s specific story and characters as a perfect allegory of this moment in time and the drive to become powerful.
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi- This was a movie that I have conflicting feelings about, as do most people. It aims for a grander scope than The Force Awakens , which was the first in the new trilogy. While it hits many of those points, it also fails on plenty of others as well. They tried to do too much, please too many masters, leading to a less cohesive and efficient film. But there is something about it, the attempt to push the envelope, that makes makes me appreciate it more than The Force Awakens. Defiantly a film that requires a second, and even third viewing, before making a better determination.
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens- I rewatched this in the lead up to The Last Jedi, and I came away feel mostly the same as I did in the first viewing in theaters- a solid movie and I enjoyed it. Similar to the films in the universe before it, purposefully not pushing any boundaries, it had a solid, taught story and reintroduced both old and new favorite characters, all within the Star Wars ethos. It is a dependable, if not cautious, movie that was carrying a enormous weight of expectations, that kept to a safe ride with a smooth landing.
• Obit- One of the gems that I discovered this year, an engaging story, told very well in relation to its subject matter- obituary writers. Using two levels of story telling, it examined the obit writers themselves, layered with selected interesting stories of the deceased, that the writers have written about over the years. Fascinating and compelling all the way through on a subject that many people think is morbid, is anything but. Very well done. Highly recommend.
• Hateful Eight- Finally got around to watching this movie that has been on my list for awhile. I watched it at home on a regular TV, so I didn’t have the impact of the 70mm experience, but it didn’t matter, it was fantastic. Top form from Tarantino, that mixes hearty dialogue, tension, and theatrics beautifully. I was engaged the entire time and is an absolute blast to watch.
• Moon Light- Not really sure why this won an Oscar for Best Picture, but maybe, simply a film I don’t relate to on any level. It was okay, with some engaging moments, but felt like it went nowhere, especially in the end. This is not to say this movie doesn’t have meaning for others, I just don’t connect with those types of movies.
• Monster Squad- This was a movie that I knew about as a kid, and was suppose to be cool, but was too young to see it. Looking for a seasonal Halloween movie, this came across my TV screen and it was a must watch. Not quite what I was expecting, but thats okay. It’s a fun movie in the utterly-cheesy-pre-teen-80’s movie kind of way. Seems ripe for a remake.
• Cloverfield Lane- I thought the original Cloverfield was just okay. But this sudo-sequel’s general story seemed interesting, along with curiosity of wanting to see how it connects to the original. This was the better movie, that could have been a standalone film, with the not so interesting tie-in to the original, being the worst part. Although interesting in that it shows another completely different perspective in a story universe that I already know, it seems to be there more for marketing purposes, than actual story needs.
• Logan- Not bad. Not great. But a decent movie. I do like that this franchise is allowed to try different ways of telling it’s stories, unlike the Disney Marvel Universe that is paint by number. A good send off for Hue Jackman as Wolverine. It’s been a great ride.
• Baby Driver- Not as good as I was hoping. I love car chase movies, but the main character (or the actor playing him) did not do it for me. When not drive, the story drags. Disappointing. Jon Ham was great though.
• Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2- Fun, but not as fun as the first. Still better than most other Marvel movies.
• Laura- A classic film noir movie from 1944 and its fantastic. The basic gist is a detective falls in love with a dead girl his is investigating. Great story, great characters, the essence of great, small world, small character films. From a different time, but if you love noirs like me, you must watch this movie.
• Split- This movie is wonderfully fun. Thrilling, exciting, scary, it really is a entertaining movie. It’s about the unbreakable spirit of a girl trapped by a psychopath. Watch it. Shyamalan, hopefully returning to form.
• Serious Man- Not on the list of my favorite Cohen Brother’s movies, as it’s one of the most wry Cohen Brother’s movie around. Very dry and narrowly focused, it still excellent in all the ways a Cohen Brother’s movie can, but not something I really connect to. But love Michael Stulhbarg in everything.
• Suicide Squad- Not as bad as everyone made it out to be. Typical superhero movie stuff with some pointless plot holes and a stupid bad guy (girl really), but was still all around fun with a great cast. Don’t listen to the negative hype, watch it and have fun.
• Arrival- Solid sci-fi movie, that worked hard to be smart and entertaining at the same time. That work paid off. Original, focused, approachable. Except for that back story, which I wasn’t too down with.
• Star Wars: Rouge One- More ambitious than The Force Awakens, but misses the mark a bit. A movie that underwent massive rewrites and reshoots and it feels like it. Has some good bones, but it’s biggest moments ultimately don’t finish where I want them too and I feel let down. Also, don’t ever put cool shots in a trailer that aren’t in the movie. Dick move, that totally takes me out of the story.
• Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice- Still not great, but like Justice League, it’s intentions allow me a great amount of latitude over it’s execution. There is a good movie in there under all it’s extraneous moments (or any Jessie Eisenberg character choices). It fits with the other movies and is still more enjoyable than Marvel movie blandness.
• Dunkirk- This one is hard for me. I didn’t have the same rush feeling that others seemed to have watching this movie. And I watched in a true IMAX theater, in all it’s IMAX glory. But with the lack of a clear protagonist for me to follow, I think is where it let me down. Also, while seeming compact with a short run time, in context for a Nolan film, the recurring Nolan problem of too many stories to follow made it difficult for me to be invested. The Tom Hardy storyline is great though. I will be giving it another chance.
• Fifty Shades Darker- Watched this one with the wife. She liked it. I felt tortured.
• The Accountant- Not great, but an easy fun action movie. Love Anna Kendrick, but totally miscast in this movie. About right for Affleck.
• The Prestige- A movie that I did not remember much from watching it years ago. Upon rewatching, I loved it. Nolan’s mastery is even more apparent when working on smaller stories. With a focused story, he really shines. This movie is one big magic trick. I’m also a sucker for historical fiction. RIP David Bowie.
• The Founder- Michael Keaton is great in this is heartfelt but inevitably sad story of ambition and greed. Does a great job of working within the grey area of questioning what it takes to become successful.
• 13th- The criminal justice system needs major reform. Not sure why? Watch this documentary by Ava DuVernay.
• Nobody Speak- The ability of the press to report the truth is under assault. Not sure why? Watch this documentary.
• Get Me Roger Stone- The ability of one man… joking. A documentary of the many shady, crooked people that advised our President, Donald Trump, on his election campaign. Not sure who Roger Stone is? Watch this documentary.
• Unbreakable- A superhero movie ahead of it’s time. If this movie came out now, it would be heralded as a masterpiece. Still holds up. Love it.
• Keeping Up with the Joneses- A thoroughly fun and entertaining movie, that is a great easy watch. Not reinventing the wheel, it is a competently made action comedy, with decent laughs. Not sure why it panned. Critics must be a bunch nihilists.
• Burnt- Solid stories, with good characters, and great acting. As before, not sure why it received so many bad reviews from critics. This movie takes you into a specific world, with it own nuances and an active, driven main character. Nothing groundbreaking, but a solid movie all the way around, that I was engaged with the whole time.
• Baywatch- Outside of Wonder Woman this could possibly be my favorite movie of the year. At least my favorite guilty pleasure of the year. People need to lighten up about this movie, as it doubles down on it’s absurdity, runs with it, and is better for it. Life is a grid, enjoy some pleasure of campy, ridiculous, fun for the sake of campy, ridiculous, fun. Life will be will be just a little bit less of a grid if you do.
• Kong: Skull Island- Okay, not great, not bad, but not great. Going for the Apocolyspe Now of King Kong movies. Like it’s set in the 1970s at the end of the Vietnam War. And just as the Vietnam War was a misguided endeavor, so is this movie.
• Beauty and the Beast- Solid live-action retelling of the belived animated feature. Could have used less of the uncanny valley CGI Beast though. Also suprised that I found the bad guy Gaston endearing for most of the film. Go figure.
• Pirates of the Carribean- With the new Pirates coming out this past year, I rewatched the first in the series. I haven’t seen this movie in years and figured that it was going to be ridiculousness like many of the recent summer action movies. But I was pleasnty suprised that it actually is done really well, and a fun story. There was nothing forced and Johnny Depp is really at his peak in this movie. I haven’t seen any of the newer more recent Pirates as they all seem to be reaching, but this one fun and funny and really well made.