Having seen my first film of 2017 at the cinema (review coming soon) I thought it would be fun to rank the films I saw at the cinema in 2016. First a caveat. Technically I saw 23 separate films at the flicks, but the 23rd was my third viewing of The Force Awakens, which was really a 2015 film. Suffice to say TFA might well have been top if I had included it!
So, the below is my list, best to worst. This is just a bit of fun, a rough idea of where I’d place the films I saw. Ask me another day and it might look quite different but, right now, this is it!
- Arrival- A slow burning, intelligent science fiction film that hits you with an almighty punch at the end.
- Deadpool- The Anti-Marvel/DC superhero film. Exceptionally funny and exceptionally snarky.
- The Nice Guys- Shane Black does what Shane Black does best, a classic buddy comedy thriller starring Crowe and Gosling on top form.
- Star Trek Beyond- After the debacle that was Into Darkness the rebooted Trek crew go on a fun and frantic adventure, a film that really feels like Star Trek and a great way to celebrate Trek’s 50th.
- Captain America: Civil War- It’s probably overlong but worth it to see Marvel’s finest go toe to toe with one another.
- Rogue One- A very good science fiction war movie with a fantastic final third, even if it never quite feels like Star Wars.
- The Magnificent Seven- Delightfully old fashioned western, fun and action packed to boot.
- The Big Short- thoroughly engaging docu-drama detailing the 2008 banking crash.
- Bridget Jones’s Baby- Bridge is back and she’s as lovably rubbish as always!
- Ghostbusters- a reboot that was more fun than it had any right to be. Great cast and, whilst not perfect, a film that didn’t remotely deserve the crap it got before anyone had even seen it.
- Dr Strange- By the numbers Marvel, lifted somewhat by Cumberbatch at his best and a finale that trades fighting for thinking.
- The Witch- A film to admire rather than like. Authentic and creepy in places.
- Blair Witch- a sequel/soft reboot that works way better than it should. Genuinely scary in places if far too long.
- Zoolander 2- A sequel that’s nowhere near the classic the original was, but still raised a few laughs.
- X-Men Apocalypse- Decidedly average entry in the X-Men franchise.
- Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice- starts well but just descends into utter nonsense and the very epitome of style over substance. Affleck is the bomb as Batman though.
- Independence Day: Resurgence- pointless big budget sequel that feels like it was made for TV.
- Dad’s Army- great cast and I did laugh, but played it far too safe.
- Blood Father- Drab thriller that at least reminds you how much screen presence Mel Gibson has.
- Passengers- Fails on just about every level. Looks beautiful but it’s utterly hollow and features some cringeworthy sexual politics.
- Triple 9- Great cast wasted in an unbelievably dull film.
- Suicide Squad- Utter mess that even Will Smith and Margot Robbie can’t save.
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Heh, *everyone* hates Suicide Squad. It’s one of those things that leaves me wondering how it could be messed up, with that cast. (I haven’t seen it – after hearing everyone’s comments, I’ll wait till it comes on the telly rather than waste my money.)
At the end of the day I went in with low expectations and I’d had a drink (rarity before a film) so I was quite relaxed, and I still hated it!