Welcome to 2017.
While it’s a knee jerk reaction to say “good riddance to bad rubbish,” let’s not forget that we had some pretty damn good movies throughout the year.
Here’s my list of the best 10 movies (with some help and input from my fellow JustSayers), as well as a look at the 3 most disappointing and 3 worst movies of the year.
Spoiler alert, Batman V Superman is the winner of one of these categories… and it isn’t Best Movie.
[divider]#10 – The Jungle Book[/divider]
Jon Favreau’s return to Disney couldn’t be better planned. With a project that challenged movie magic as we knew it, while already being a classic simply looking for a simple update without overdoing it, Favreau was pretty much the best damn choice.
Throw in Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Bill Murray, Lupita Nyong’o, Scarlett Johansson, Christopher Walken, Giancarlo Esposito, and introducing Neel Sethi, The Jungle Book is currently the standard against which all future live-action Disney adaptations will be judged.
Guanny: One of the most beautiful movies of the year, The Jungle Book truly showcased the power of blue screen magic. Neel Sethi put in a commendable shift basically acting solo throughout the movie, culminating in an enjoyable movie with too little of Christopher Walken’s singing.
Hijanah: A soul-stirring reminder on how the recipe to living life is not so much reliant on circumstance but rather, on its bare necessities.
Apart from the obvious enchantment that lies in the idea of humans’ cohabitation with animals, the film boasts the astounding rendering of graphically produced animals, as well as a witty, sweeping script. It is a work of art, a worthy candidate to narrating this classic story.
Mohit: This year has really been a treat for the 90s kids with their childhood characters being brought back to the big screen. It also revels in the nostalgia while still bringing something fresh for the cinematic experience.
Kanesh: Some good childhood nostalgia and the characters in the film were very well adapted. It didn’t hit my expectations after seeing the sky high reviews, but it’s still an enjoyable watch.
[divider]#09 – Zootopia[/divider]
Cute animals, catchy beats, celebrity voice cast, dark overtones dealing with racism and stereotyping… y’know, all the usual stuff you’d except to see in a Disney movie.
Zootopia certainly takes a stark left on the realm of what Disney’s animated features usually tackle, with their approach on racism and its very real presence in society today.
It gets a little heavy-handed here and there, but given the weight of the issue, maybe a heavy hand is what we need.
Guanny: In a world where animals are pretty much humans, this thinly-veiled social commentary balances a great story and teaching of morals, meaning a movie which the whole family can enjoy.
Hijanah: Zootopia has got to be the one movie that’s seamlessly managed to appeal to both kids, and adults as individual groups, without needing to rely on generic mass appeal. The harmony between quirk and harsh subtext in Zootopia is remarkable, though It probably owes this to the lack of a culture shock – issues highlighted have already infiltrated common society, perhaps in smaller magnitudes.
Mohit: The best movie this year for all ages. Zootopia can appeal to the younger audience easily, while also being able to reach out to the mature audiences by exploring themes which are prevailing in today’s society. Along with La La Land, Zootopia is definitely my #01 pick for the year.
Kanesh: Second best movie of the year for me. I felt that the screenplay was close to perfect and the message of the film was strong and very meaningful.
[divider]#08 – Ghostbusters[/divider]
As a fan of the original Ghostbusters, I can definitely and irrevocably say that I LOVED this movie.
The problem with a lot of the stuff from the ‘80s and early ‘90s is that they get unfairly romanticised. While the original is my favourite movie of all time, this reboot stands on its own merit and is a great example of putting four fantastic comedienne to great use. While the deleted scenes would certainly add more to the characters, the movie itself was great with its use of action, humour, and the best cameos this side of Rogue One.
Guanny: Although many felt that it was a disappointment, the reboot was honestly, pretty good. Plagued by marketing tragedies and a horrible theme song, the movie started on the wrong foot. Besides the sometimes sexist overtones, the main cast’s performance was ectoplasmic enough for the movie to work.
Hijanah: The gaudy graphics of this movie can be disregarded because of its charming cast, and comedic writing. Further disregarding the occasional slip-up, what particularly captured me was how the movie seemed hell-bent on reasonable feminism (in this case, eradicating the need for gender classification). Cheers to women finally wearing outfits PRACTICAL enough for their roles.
Mohit: While receiving polarising critiques, Ghostbusters still does manage to indulge in the nostalgia. Definitely wouldn’t mind calling them when there’s something strange in the Neighbourhood.
Kanesh: Many people didn’t like the movie but I thought it was pretty good. I think it was a smart move by the producers to make the movie a female dominated one… with Chris Hemsworth of course.